Pamela Anderson Discusses Terrifying Diagnosis That Once Left Her With ‘10 Years to Live’

Pamela Anderson is opening up about a frightening health chapter that shaped her choices for years, even long after she was medically cleared of the disease. ‘The Naked Gun’ star, 59, reflected on being diagnosed with hepatitis C in the late 1990s while accepting amfAR’s Award of Courage in Venice.

At the time, the “Baywatch” icon said doctors gave her a prognosis that left her fearing she might not live to see her children grow up.

“It was a death sentence. That’s what my doctor told me — that I probably had around 10 years to live,” Pamela said, according to Variety. “I’m sure that colored and corrupted my decisions. It was not fear of death, but fear of what might happen to my young children. It turned my life inside out.”

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How Did Pamela Anderson’s Diagnosis Affect Her Life?

For Pamela, the impact went far beyond the infection’s physical effects. She said the diagnosis brought years of shame and uncertainty that continued to follow her even after her health improved.

“But my experience of shame and guilt was also an unconscious journey. It stays with me; it haunts me,” she said.

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“And just like the sexual abuse that I endured as a child, it felt like it was carved into my forehead: Damaged goods. And I presented myself as such.”

Pamela acknowledged that she still has not “fully recovered” emotionally from receiving the diagnosis, though she now feels she has “finally come to terms” with that period of her life.

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When Did Pamela Anderson Become Hepatitis C Free?

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Treatment for hepatitis C advanced significantly in the years following Pamela’s diagnosis.

By 2015, she was able to announce that she was “hep C free.” Getting there came at a substantial cost. Pamela revealed that treatment “took everything I had in my bank.”

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Her experience added meaning to her recognition from amfAR, an organization best known for its work to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic and for supporting hepatitis C research and advocacy.

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How Has Pamela Anderson Turned Pain Into Her Work?

Pamela said acting and other creative pursuits eventually gave her a way to process experiences she once struggled to understand.

“My truth has come through my work, finding ways to express myself through the arts. It gave me the ammunition I needed, a fertile life to use and play in,” she said.

That approach has accompanied a celebrated new chapter in her career. Recent projects have included “The Last Showgirl,” “The Naked Gun” and “Rosebush Pruning.” She also stars in “Place to Be,” which is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

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What Did Pamela Anderson Say About Being a Survivor?

Pamela closed her remarks by making clear that she no longer sees herself through the lens of what happened to her. “I’m not a victim, I’m a victor. I am strong and capable, more now than I could ever dream of … I’m not the damsel in distress, no matter how easy that role is to play.”

Decades after being told her future could be sharply limited, Pamela is now speaking about that diagnosis from a very different place.

The fear once centered on whether she would have enough time with her children. Today, she is healthy, working, and using one of the most difficult periods of her life as part of a much broader story about survival.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.