Angie Best Shares Her Journey Through Cancer Treatment
Angie Best, the former wife of the late Manchester United legend George Best and mother of TV personality Calum Best, has been open about her battle with colon cancer. At 73 years old, she recently shared a candid Instagram post showcasing her new hairstyle, revealing that she now has only “15 hairs” left after undergoing chemotherapy.
The iconic figure has taken a unique approach to her treatment by traveling to Switzerland for mistletoe therapy, a form of alternative medicine that uses extracts from the European mistletoe plant. This treatment is often used alongside traditional chemotherapy and is believed to stimulate the immune system while mitigating some of the side effects like pain, nausea, and fatigue.
Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, typically beginning 14 to 21 days after the first treatment. Angie has been open about her struggles with this, sharing a video of a large clump of hair in her hand and joking about developing a sense of humor about going bald.
She recently visited a salon to have her pixie cut styled into a new look, which she proudly shared on Instagram with the caption: “Went to see the lovely @ginaconwaysalonandspa today and she worked wonders with what she had, 15 hairs.”
Angie’s oncologist has informed her that her treatment has been progressing well, with most of the cancer being eliminated after four sessions. She said:
“I went to see my oncologist yesterday and he said, ‘Ange, you’ve done amazing. In four sessions we’ve got rid of 80 per cent of your cancer which is phenomenal.’ I was thrilled but he said, ‘you have to come back for another four sessions.’ If four got rid of 80 per cent, why do I need four more? I said, ‘let’s do two’ and he said, ‘OK’.”
Despite the progress, Angie admitted to feeling a bit down, saying, “I was hoping I’d walk in and he’d say, ‘Ange, it’s all gone, you’re cancer free.’ I had that in my head for a week. ‘Ange, your cancer free,’ but then I would look at my face and say, ‘holy s**t no you’re not.’”
She also thanked her social media followers for their support, adding, “Your support means the world and I love you. Sorry for moaning, I’m just feeling a bit sorry for myself.”
Navigating Health Challenges
In February, Angie revealed she was struggling to gain weight due to her healthy diet, which isn’t helping with weight gain. She explained:
“I’m having my mistletoe treatment today. I have to say, this being sick, it’s a very humbling experience. It makes you second guess everything. I’m trying to eat healthy because I’ve got to gain weight because I weigh 46 kilos and with the next two rounds of chemo, I need more weight. But the problem is, I’m trying to eat healthy so I’ve now got to go and eat, not quite so healthy. I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
In a caption alongside the video, she wrote: “Today I’m having Mistletoe therapy, it stimulates your immune system and mitigates side effects of Chemo and radiation like pain nausea and fatigue.”
Her son, Calum, commented on the video, writing: “I love you.”
Mistletoe treatment is an alternative therapy that has been used in Europe for decades, particularly in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Some practitioners believe it can improve the quality of life for cancer patients, though its effectiveness remains debated in mainstream medicine. It is not a standard, approved treatment on the NHS, as robust evidence of its effectiveness as a cure is considered inconclusive by major UK cancer bodies.
A Family’s Fight Against Cancer
Calum, who previously appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, revealed his mother’s diagnosis in a heartfelt video posted to social media in January. In the clip, he expressed his distress, saying:
“A few weeks ago, my beautiful, wonderful mum was diagnosed with cancer. For as long as I can remember, she has lived her life rooted in health, fitness and wellbeing. She has always believed in taking care of the body, mind and soul. But as we all know, cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care where you’re from, how you live, or how healthy you try to be. And now, it’s here – and it’s with my mum.”
He admitted he “hasn’t cried in years” but has been on an “emotional rollercoaster” since the diagnosis. Calum explained, “My mum has been diagnosed with colon cancer that has spread to her liver. To move forward, we need access to specialist care and professionals who can offer the right treatment. This is incredibly hard for me to say, but financially, I can’t carry this on my own.”
To help cover the costs of his mother’s specialist treatment, Calum set up a GoFundMe page, stating, “Any contribution, no matter how small, will help us access the specialists, treatment and care my mum needs during this time.”
