Valerie's husband of 26 years Tony Cacciotti is happy after receiving doctor's report of his wife's condition, saying, 'This is overwhelming.'
- Aug 30, 2013
AceShowbiz - "Rhoda" actress Valerie Harper, who previously was expected to live "three months" after being diagnosed with a rare brain cancer in January, has learned good news concerning her condition. According to an MRI scan which was taken in June, Harper's doctor says that her brain cancer is "close to remission."
In a Thursday episode of "Today" show, neuro-oncologist Jeremy Rudnick told Harper and NBC correspondent Meredith Vieira, "I'd say that we're getting pretty close to a remission." The doctor added, "It defies the odds." Dr. Rudnick, however, warned, "The problem is that at anytime this can change. [Patients] develop resistance to the therapy and it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when."
Harper, who invited Vieira to doctor visits for a televised special which talks about her battle with cancer, opens up about the test result. She tells Vieira that "I just want to live every moment to the fullest," because she learns that there is "no cure" for the disease. "Spontaneous remission lives as a possibility ... I think infinite possibility is beautiful in every area. A lot of stuff that looks impossible is not, and every day there's evidence of it," the 74-year-old actress explains in the interview which will air on September 19.
Harper's husband of 26 years Tony Cacciotti is very happy after learning that he and his wife may spend more time together. "Going from having three months to live, or less; we're into our sixth month, and now there's even hope beyond right now we're looking at," Cacciotti says. "We're looking at Christmas!" Harper adds. "This is overwhelming," Cacciotti continues.
Meanwhile, the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" star is rumored to be a contestant on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars". According to TMZ, Harper is in good shape and she has started practicing with her dance partner Tristan MacManus. Snooki, Leah Remini and Amber Riley reportedly will be on the show as well.
