In Valerie Harper’s first television interview since revealing she has terminal brain cancer, the beloved 1970s sitcom star admits she’s not ready to say goodbye and is optimistic for a cure.
Harper, best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and her spin-off “Rhoda,” was told by her doctors that she has between three to six months to live.
“It is very rare,” the 73-year-old told the “Today” show about her diagnosis, leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
She told host Savannah Guthrie that “‘incurable’ is a tough word.” People “hear it as this death sentence.”
Harper received the news less than two months ago during her book tour for her memoir, “I, Rhoda.”
“It was hard to detect because it was diffuse. It’s all around. It’s not in one lump.”
Harper says “it feels awful damn good to be open about (the illness), face it and see what you can do. If you die, you’re not a failure. You’re just somebody who had cancer, and that’s the outcome.”
In the meantime, she’s telling herself to keep “your thoughts open to infinite possibility and keep yourself open to miracles.”
Although the Emmy-winning actress admits she’s “ready to say bye-bye,” at the moment, she’s remaining positive about her diagnosis.
“I’m not dying until I do,” she explained. “I have an intention to live each … moment fully.”
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