Singer Natalie Cole, who was last in the news for her comments about drug addict Amy Winehouse’s appearance at the Grammy awards, has been diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus. Cole’s doctors discovered this during a routine checkup, and she has already begun treatment for the virus, which causes liver damage.
Natalie Cole has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, according to reports, but she’s doing well, apparently.
She discovered that she had the disease during a routine visit to the doctor. “Natalie has had a terrific response to her medication and is now virus negative,” said her doctor at Cedars. “This gives her an increased chance of cure.”
Doctors think she may have contracted Hep C from past drug usage.
The standard treatment for Hep C is a drug called peginterferon. There’s no word on whether that’s the treatment Natalie elected. Hopefully she stays on this positive treatment path and continues to take care of herself. Natalie has been sober for decades. In her 2000 memoir, “Angel on My shoulder,” she spoke candidly about her pot, cocaine, heroin and alcohol use and even revealed that she regularly performed under the influence, was busted for drug possession, and gave men sexual favors in exchange for drugs. This latest news could be a good opportunity for her to speak out about some of the lasting health dangers associated with drug use.
Natalie Cole is shown at the Ebony Pre-Oscar Celebration on 2/21/08. Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN.
She’s a bad influence.
@ Jaundice:
How exactly is she a bad influence? The fact that she stopped using and engaging in risky behaviors? Would you rather someone look up to her or to a hot mess like Amy Winehouse or Pete Doherty?
I was being merely being facetious. I don’t know much about her personally, except that she’s the daughter of legendary jazz artist Nat King Cole and has tried several times to capitalize both on her late daddy and the fact that she’s a recovering addict. (And I think that’s pretty much all she’s known for, much to her chagrin.)
I do know that she raised a jealous uproar when everyone’s favorite little crackette Wino took home a couple of Grammy’s, citing Crackie’s personal life over her professional merits. It was a pretty transparent little rant, considering the awards are meant to honor the outcome of a person’s efforts and it’s impact on popular culture (ie the music) rather than the process of thereof. Now if Wino was awarded “Role Model of the Year” by her local chapter of thePTA, Natalie would have a leg to stand on.
Does the fact that she’s now diagnosed with a communicable bloodborne pathogen make her a bad influence and an immoral person? No, I don’t think so at all – but there are others who may think that way. Is it somewhat ironic that a reformed wild-child talks down about the personal lives of others finds herself infected with a by-product of her past antics? Yes. Yes it is.
Have to say I was shocked by her recent statements…..who the hell are you dear.But no one deserves the hep.No one.
Can we please cut the hep C b.s. her publicist said. It is NOT tested in routine tests otherwise she would have been diagnosed decades ago. The tests are very expensive; her liver enzymes must have been elevated.
And you CAN NOT get it from sex . . well I guess if there’s a bloody penis and a menstruating woman involved.
Please if you’ve ever, ever shared a needle get tested. There is no cure for hepatitis C just as there is no cure for HIV.
Agree, particularly the ‘virus negative’ and ‘increased chance of cure’ bit. Why bother issuing a statement at all if they’re going to spin it like this?
Well said, Jaundice. That really put me off her at the time.
She should have studied harder,,,she could have been a hepatitis A if she put her mind to it….Freaking slacker
I would like to say to Natalie and anyone with Hep C – make sure you are checked throughout your chemo for anemia. I had it but the “specialists” didn’t catch it, my regular doctor did when I was extremely week and tired. Also, have Vitamin D levels checked. Mine was 11 after chemo. I’m on prescription Vit. D now and it is helping so much. I’m getting stronger and in less pain.
Also, baby yourself. Take excellent care of yourself. And some soul searching never hurt. My forced soul searching – being on chemo and not able to do much else – found an artist inside totally by accident!
One more thing – I lost only half of my hair. It thinned out alot but was so thick to begin with that it didn’t show too much.
Blessings to you Natalie and anyone out there going through this….
Rebecca … http://www.RebeccasMosaics.com ..
I would like to say to Natalie and anyone with Hep C – make sure you are checked throughout your chemo for anemia. I had it but the “specialists” didn’t catch it, my regular doctor did when I was extremely week and tired. Also, have Vitamin D levels checked. Mine was 11 after chemo. I’m on prescription Vit. D now and it is helping so much. I’m getting stronger and in less pain.
Also, baby yourself. Take excellent care of yourself. And some soul searching never hurt. My forced soul searching – being on chemo and not able to do much else – found an artist inside totally by accident!
One more thing – I lost only half of my hair. It thinned out alot but was so thick to begin with that it didn’t show too much.
Blessings to you Natalie and anyone out there going through this….
Rebecca
http://www.RebeccasMosaics.com
Life is Good!
Natalie hang in there with treatment I have genotype 1a hardest to treat. I was treated for 4 yrs and was in study program also. just make sure you have a good GI or Hepatitis Dr. and follow treatments. I was I was working as a nurse in a Kidney Dialysis Center in 1989 and was stuck by a patients contaminated needle. Was not diagnosed until 1999. Now I am having problems mosttly with confusion related to Hepatic Encelopathy. I am in process of getting on Liver transplant list. Long process yet worth it. So just hang in there there is always someone worse off.
J LaFleur
jerl82@comcast.net