Angie Best, 73, has announced she is set to undergo major surgery as part of her treatment for colon cancer. The ex-wife of George Best and mother of Calum Best shared the update on Monday, detailing the upcoming procedure where a part of her colon will be removed.
Best, who revealed her diagnosis in January, described the experience as "debilitating mentally as much as it is physically." She expressed a sense of urgency for the operation, stating, "On Thursday I go in for an operation where they cut out the part of my colon that… needs to be cut out."
She has been undergoing treatment in Switzerland, including mistletoe therapy, an alternative treatment that uses extracts from the European mistletoe plant and can be used alongside traditional chemotherapy. Hair loss has been a noticeable side effect of her treatment. Best shared on Instagram in May that she had only about "15 hairs" left after chemotherapy and sought a salon visit to style her remaining hair.
Despite the challenges, Best's oncologist recently informed her that her treatment has been successful, eliminating approximately 80% of the cancer after four sessions. However, she was advised to undergo another four sessions. Best negotiated this down to two additional sessions, expressing a hope for complete remission.
"I was hoping I'd walk in and he'd say, 'Ange, it's all gone, you're cancer free,'" she stated. "But then I would look at my face and say, 'holy s**t no you're not.'"
Best has also spoken about struggles with weight loss due to her healthy diet and the need to gain weight for further treatment. She described her illness as a "humbling experience" and expressed gratitude for the support she has received from her social media followers.
Mistletoe treatment, used in Europe for decades, aims to stimulate the immune system and potentially improve a patient's quality of life. While it can be used concurrently with chemotherapy, its effectiveness as a standalone cancer cure remains a subject of debate in mainstream medicine and is not considered a standard approved treatment by major UK cancer bodies due to inconclusive evidence.
Calum Best first revealed his mother's diagnosis in January, describing it as a difficult time. He noted that his mother, who has consistently prioritized health and fitness, was diagnosed with colon cancer that had spread to her liver. He established a GoFundMe page to assist with the costs of her specialist medical care.