Pamela Anderson has revealed that her hepatitis C diagnosis in the late 1990s came with a prognosis of about 10 years to live, profoundly affecting her choices and family life.
Anderson, 59, spoke about the experience while accepting the Award of Courage at the amfAR Gala in Venice on Sept. 6. She described the diagnosis as a “death sentence,” saying her doctor had estimated she might have around a decade left.
Rather than fearing death itself, Anderson said her greatest concern was what would happen to her sons, Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger, who were young at the time.
She said the diagnosis “turned my life inside out” and influenced decisions she later came to view differently.
The actress previously said she contracted hepatitis C after sharing a tattoo needle with former husband Tommy Lee.
The diagnosis also became part of a highly publicized dispute between the former couple.
Medical treatment eventually changed Anderson’s outlook. New hepatitis C medications became available, and she said undergoing treatment required everything she had in the bank.
By 2015, Anderson announced that she was free of the virus. She said the experience nevertheless left her dealing with shame and guilt for years.
At the Venice event, Anderson framed her recovery as part of a broader personal transformation, saying her artistic work helped her process her past. She concluded: “I’m not a victim, I’m a victor.”
