London
(ANI):
Singer
Natalie
Cole
has
confirmed
that
she
is
suffering
from
the
chronic
liver
disease
Hepatitis
C.
The
58-year-old
made
the
announcement
after
she
was
forced
to
pull
out
of
a
gig
in
California
due
to
the
disease.
It
is
believed
that
she
contracted
the
disease
during
the
80s
when
she
was
heavily
into
drugs.
In
a
statement,
her
US
publicist
confirmed
the
disease
and
said
that
Cole
was
turning
to
her
family
and
friends
for
supports,
reports
the
Mirror.
"I
am
embraced
by
the
love
and
support
of
my
family
and
friends.
I
am
committed
to
my
belief
in
myself
and
in
my
abiding
faith
to
meet
this
challenge
with
heartfelt
optimism
and
determination," she
said.
According
to
her
doctor,
Grammy
Award
winner
is
responding
very
well
to
treatment,
with
her
virus
now
in
the
negative,
giving
her
a
better
chance
of
being
cured
completely.
Other
celebs
to
have
contracted
the
disease
include
former
Baywatch
babe
Pamela
Anderson,
ex
hubby
Tommy
Lee,
Aerosmith
frontman
Steven
Tyler
and
Larry
Hagman,
aka
Dallas
JR.