Angie Best, 74, is set to undergo two operations on her liver as a new health challenge emerges shortly after being declared cancer-free. The former model, who is the ex-wife of the late footballer George Best, was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in January, which had metastasized to her liver.
Best had traveled to Switzerland for a mistletoe therapy treatment, a European alternative therapy using European mistletoe plant extracts, which she combined with traditional medicine to combat a 30cm tumor. Her son, Calum Best, had previously shared positive updates, stating that his mother no longer had cancer in her liver.
Despite the remission, Best revealed on Instagram that she still requires two surgical procedures to address remaining cells in her liver. "I played down the liver ops but will update what they are later," she stated. She further explained, "I just want to say a heartfelt thanks to those who wished me a happy 74th birthday. But I need to clear something up, you know how I told you I was cancer free, well I am, except the bits in my liver, the cells that metastasized from the colon to the liver - they have to be gotten rid of. Some small ones on the left hand side and some big ones on the right hand side."
She added, "So I've got two little liver operations to do and then I am done so wish me luck - again."
Earlier, Best had successfully undergone surgery to remove the cancer from her colon. She shared that she had been discharged from the hospital after a laparoscopy, or keyhole surgery, to remove the remaining cancer. "The chemo and the immunotherapy prior had shrunk my 30cm lump down to a little tiny bit that was attached to the colon. They shrunk it, now we go in and cut it out," she explained in a video. She expressed gratitude for her recovery, stating, "I'm so happy because now I can officially say with gratitude and love that I am cancer free and healing. All I've got to do now is get better."
Her battle with cancer has been publicly shared, with Best documenting hair loss and debilitating symptoms throughout her treatment. She had been dividing her time between the UK and a clinic in Switzerland for her mistletoe therapy. Mistletoe treatment is an alternative therapy used in Europe for decades, with some practitioners believing it can stimulate the immune system and improve patients' quality of life, though its efficacy as a cure remains debated in mainstream medicine. It is not an approved standard cancer treatment by the NHS due to inconclusive evidence of its effectiveness.
Calum Best first revealed his mother's diagnosis in January, describing the situation as devastating. He noted that despite his mother's lifelong dedication to health and fitness, cancer does not discriminate. He admitted to being on an "emotional rollercoaster" since her diagnosis and stated that the financial burden of her specialist treatment was significant, leading him to set up a GoFundMe page to help cover costs.