Acting legend Charlotte Rae has been diagnosed with bone cancer and revealed she had also secretly battled pancreatic cancer seven years ago.
The 91-year-old actress, who is best known for playing Edna Garrett in 80s sitcom The Facts of Life and most recently in Pretty Little Liars, said she isn't in any pain and is just delighted to be "above the ground".
Opening up about her diagnosis, she told People magazine that she only found out about her health scare last week.
"Last Monday, I found out I have bone cancer."
''About seven years ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer - which is a miracle that they found it because usually it's too late.
''My mother, sister and my uncle died of pancreatic cancer. After six months of chemotherapy, I was cancer-free. I lost my hair, but I had beautiful wigs. Nobody even knew.''
The veteran actress is currently weighing up her options but thinks she will accept a course of treatment to fight the disease.
''So now, at the age of 91, I have to make up my mind.
''I'm not in any pain right now. I'm feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground. Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again to opt for life. I love life. I've had a wonderful one already. I have this decision to make.
''I think I'm going to go for [treatment]. The side effects were not too bad when I did it originally. I've had a great life, but I have so many wonderful things happening. I'd like to choose life. I'm grateful for the life I've already had," she added.
Rae hopes encouraged her fans to live life to the fullest and not to be sweating the little things.
''At 91, every day is a birthday. [In my book, The Facts of My Life] I want to tell everybody to celebrate every day, to savour the day and be good to yourself, love yourself, and then you can be good to others and be of service to others," she said.
