Farrah's Story

I do not read or watch tabloid shows so I had only briefly heard on CNN of Ms. Fawcett's illness. Last night I watched this show (it was only on twice, and cable should re-air it so a larger audience is educated).

She is truly amazing, and strong of spirit. Her cancer is difficult to treat, and we see her taking trips to Germany where they have more advanced cell-isolating treatments, and better cancer care. Needless to compare this to her horrific experience with UCLA and an employee selling her private medical information for profit.

How much our health care system is in a shambles, is clearly reflected by her experience. Laws do not protect the patient. Patients are abused regularly in nursing homes, my father passed away in one as they neglected to feed him, and give him physical therapy.

Back to Farrah- she still looks wonderful and is a true fighter, her friend Alana Stewart filmed this, and is a devoted friend and confidante of her long-time friend. Ryan O'Neal also seems very broken up, and while the situation is very dire, it is incredible that audiences are finally being educated on what these people are living through.

This is truly an important film, and those of us who remember Farrah when she was younger will empathize,(we see graphic footage of her losing, then shaving her long tresses, which were her trademark at one time). Also,especially if we have experienced this tragedy in our own families, and dealt with the horrific hospice care provided to the less than wealthy.

Farrah, you still look incredible, and your spirit is a true inspiration. 10/10.

Through all the years I've seen Ms. Farrah Fawcett on "Charlie's Angels" and movies like Cannonball Run and "The Burning Bed", not to mention that iconic '70s poster that teenage boys all over America drooled over, she looked so healthy during all that time that I never thought of her as someone who would one day get cancer so when I first heard of that 3 years ago, I was heartbroken. And now that it has recurred, I hope to God she gets better or at least dies with dignity. It certainly was very heart-wrenching seeing her go through all those treatments in Germany and UCLA and then have those tabloids exploit her tragedy to such an extent that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has passed a bill to stop such intrusions that I was on the verge of crying buckets constantly. But it's so positive to see paramour Ryan O'Neal and their son Redmond, despite their drug troubles, giving Ms. Fawcett such support, not to mention former "Angels" co-stars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith, cancer survivors themselves, renew their friendship during all this time. And kudos for Alana Stewart for filming the whole thing, warts and all, despite Ms. Stewart's occasional reticence doing so. Also was pleasantly surprised to see her ex-husband George Hamilton at Farrah's birthday party being his massively cool self to the eternally feathery-haired one. Well, not so now since it's all gone except for the bangs which partially shocked me when I saw that but she's still beautiful despite that. All I can say now is God bless you, Ms. Fawcett. May he indeed make you one of HIS angels when the time comes...Update 6/25/09: Ms. Fawcett died this morning. My prayers and condolences are with Ryan, Redmond, her father, and all her closest friends on this sad day of remembrance.

I think that those who watch this, if you have never had the unfortunate experience of watching a loved one suffer through treatments for cancer, this will paint a very jarring picture. Seeing Farrah without her trademark locks reminded me of my Aunt who ended up shaving her head as well when it starting falling out from chemo. Farrah in all her fragility is a fighter. And to see her lifelong partner Ryan O'Neal - this is clearly a man who is trying to put on a brave front and is scared as hell to live one day without her. To put your body through so many different types of treatments leaving you sick and in pain and yet still having the will to keep moving forward is something to be admired. Not only that, but to document the process is equally brave. I'm not sure I would want cameras rolling with a puke bucket in front of me. Hopefully this documentary will serve to continue to raise awareness for all types of cancer. My aunt passed away after a 10 1/2 year battle with breast cancer this past Christmas. I only hope Farrah's family and friends take up the cause and continue to fight the good fight.

Farrah Fawcett is a beautiful, timeless, ageless, intelligent actress and artist. In this brave documentary, she is battling cancer. In her words with the cameras rolling despite seeing the painful side of cancer, Farrah is nothing but brave in this battle. It is courageous to see her say goodbye to her famous hair with class and dignity. It's hard and can bring you to tears. For those of us who have watched Farrah go from being a Charlie's Angel to a star, it's like watching a family member or friend go through this and it's hard because you're right there with her. Farrah's best friend, Alana Stewart (former wife of Rod Stewart CBE and George Hamilton) is there with her most of the way as is of course, her beloved Ryan O'Neal who just about falls apart with the thought of losing her. Farrah's battle against cancer has taken her to Germany for a treatment not yet approved in the United States. Her cancer battle exposed UCLA's negligence and violation of patient's confidentiality. Somehow the tabloids knew about her condition before her own family. It's heartbreaking but Farrah becomes more real to the audience as another human being. She battles cancer with such bravery, courage, and strength that some of us don't have. She has a yearning to live her life again without cancer. She is not only an actress, artist but an activist as well. Most of all, Farrah has played a survivor and she is one herself. It's times like these that I wished that James Lipton had interviewed her for the Actors Studio because she has a lot to share with aspiring artists and actors out there. I was thrilled to see the original Charlie's Angels as friends not just co-stars. Both her co-stars, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson, battled cancer and won. God Bless You, Farrah. We're all praying for your miracle too.

American actress Farrah Fawcett is diagnosed in 2006 with anal cancer. She rallies nearly a year later after seeking treatment overseas, but the reemergence of tumors in her liver makes the prognosis ultimately grim. What is anal cancer, how does it start? What's the difference between colon cancer and anal cancer...or rectal cancer? This documentary, filmed completely with hand-held devices, doesn't clue us in on the mysteries of the disease. Yes, it is insidious and sneaky--and unfair--but we don't get much information from the doctors. Still, the task here is to show Fawcett's struggle, and her bravery is admirable under intense circumstances (I don't think I could have made it through the needle-based operation which treats the liver). Fawcett proves to have a playful side in the face of adversity, throwing snowballs in Germany with her friend Alana Stewart or blowing out the candles on her birthday cake served by her doctors and pals. Her positive demeanor takes a huge hit upon learning that a special cancer treatment now being performed at UCLA did not work for her, and one sees clearly how hope and faith can only take a person so far (our fates lie helplessly in the hands of others: doctors, certainly, but mostly the Man upstairs). This television special doesn't hint at an underlying issue (that people without money, or celebrity, are not privy to the European advances in medicine that movie stars are, they cannot afford the treatments and pills and visits). The privileges that Fawcett has earned do prolong her life, and that extra time on Earth is indeed precious, yet "Farrah's Story" does make one think about all those others who were not even this fortunate.