Angie Best's Cancer Battle: Acne Breakout Leaves Her Avoiding Public View
Angie Best, the former wife of late Manchester United icon George Best and mother of television personality Calum Best, has disclosed that she "doesn't want to go out in public" or have anyone see her due to a severe acne breakout she is experiencing amid her colon cancer treatment. The 73-year-old, who stunned supporters earlier this year by revealing her diagnosis, is currently undergoing an unconventional cancer therapy in Switzerland known as mistletoe treatment.
Visible Side Effects Take Emotional Toll
In a candid video shared on Facebook, Angie detailed the distressing physical side effects she is facing, including not only the acne breakout but also swollen lips and painful tongue ulcers. She explained that chemotherapy can frequently cause acne or acne-like rashes, while targeted cancer therapies often lead to increased skin sensitivity and itchiness.
"I've got spots I've never had in my life," Angie confessed in her emotional video message. "It's bad enough with the chemo that makes you feel like total rubbish all the time, but then you've got the side effects like the ulcers and stuff. When you look at your skin and you go 'holy moly, what happened?' It's so demoralising."
The television personality did not mince words about the psychological impact: "I'm as vain as the next person and we all are, so don't tell me you're not and don't tell me I shouldn't worry about my looks. Forget that. Yes, I should! I won't go out in public, I don't want anyone to see me looking like twenty miles of bad road."
Treatment Progress Amid Physical Challenges
Despite these visible side effects, Angie received encouraging news from her oncologist, who informed her that her treatment has been progressing remarkably well. "I went to see my oncologist yesterday and he said, 'Ange, you've done amazing. In four sessions we've got rid of 80 percent of your cancer which is phenomenal,'" she shared.
However, the medical professional recommended an additional four treatment sessions, which Angie negotiated down to two. "I was thrilled but he said, 'you have to come back for another four sessions.' If four got rid of 80 percent, why do I need four more? I said, 'let's do two' and he said, 'OK.'"
She added with poignant honesty: "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, you're cancer free,' but then I would look at my face and say, 'holy moly no you're not.'"
Mistletoe Therapy and Weight Struggles
Angie has been receiving mistletoe therapy in Switzerland, an alternative cancer treatment that uses extracts from the European mistletoe plant. This approach has been utilized in Europe for decades, particularly in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, though its effectiveness remains debated within mainstream medical circles.
In a caption accompanying her video, Angie explained: "Today I'm having Mistletoe therapy, it stimulates your immune system and mitigates side effects of Chemo and radiation like pain, nausea and fatigue." It is important to note that mistletoe treatment is not a standard, approved cancer therapy on the NHS, as major UK cancer bodies consider robust evidence of its effectiveness as inconclusive.
The cancer patient also revealed she has been struggling to maintain adequate body weight during treatment. "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," she said. "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."
Family Support and Public Response
Angie expressed deep gratitude toward her social media followers for their ongoing support during this challenging period. "Your support means the world and I love you. Sorry for moaning, I'm just feeling a bit sorry for myself," she told her audience.
Her son, former Celebrity Big Brother star Calum Best, commented simply "I love you" on the video. Calum had previously revealed his mother's diagnosis in an emotional social media video back in January, where he explained she had colon cancer that had spread to her liver.
In that earlier announcement, Calum admitted: "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." The reality television personality subsequently established a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his mother's specialist treatment abroad.
Understanding Colon Cancer
Bowel or colorectal cancer affects the large bowel, comprising both the colon and rectum. These malignancies typically develop from pre-cancerous growths called polyps. Common warning signs include:
- Bleeding from the bottom or blood in stools
- A persistent change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme, unexplained tiredness
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
While most cases have no clear single cause, certain factors increase risk, including being over 50, having a family history of the condition, personal history of bowel polyps, inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease, and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Standard treatment typically involves surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. According to medical statistics, more than ninety percent of people diagnosed with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or longer after diagnosis. Unfortunately, only approximately one-third of all colorectal cancers are identified at this early, more treatable stage.
Bowel Cancer UK reports that more than 41,200 people receive a bowel cancer diagnosis annually in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the National Cancer Institute indicates the condition affects around 40 per 100,000 adults each year.
