Olivia The cancer warrior is facing her biggest fight yet

The iconic singer has defeated the disease once before, and there’s no way she’s giv giving g in this time around

She’s regarded as one of the most talented people in the music industry, but more than that, Olivia Newton-John is loved for her beautiful soul and her unbreakable spirit.

Last week, Australia’s favourite singer once again called on her incredible strength as she vowed for a second time not to let breast cancer beat her, and promised her beloved fans she will “be back later in the year, better than ever”.

The 68-year-old, who’s long been a source of strength and inspiration to people battling cancer, was determined to explain to her fans why she is postponing her US and Canadian tours.

In a statement, the singer – who is married to herb company CEO John Easterling – revealed the back pain that had caused her to postpone part of her concert tour last month has turned out to be breast cancer that has spread to her back. It comes 25 years after her first bout with the disease.

Despite Olivia’s brave face, her friends say behind closed doors she is devastated by the diagnosis, which she received a fortnight ago at home in California.

“She felt she had to release the news, but she doesn’t want to talk to anyone about it,” confides a family friend.

“She finds talking about it, or having it talked about, t, very draining, and she needs every ounce of her energy to fight it. She’s determined to focus on the future. Although she thinks positively – which is the best t thing when you’re facing such a challenge – she’s also trying to be realistic and to face this head-on.”

In April, Olivia was complaining that her sciatica was playing up and her back pain was getting worse.

“The problem with Livvy is she likes to be busy – she never stops. It was only because the pain was persisting – and because John made her – that she stopped to get it checked at all.

“Of course, John is frantic and has made a whole course of Amazon herbs for Olivia to combine with her [Western] cancer treatment,” tells her friend, adding she’s begun taking medication and will start radiation next week, employing the best doctors in the US to help her fight the insidious disease.

Olivia has confided in friends she had a sixth sense that something was really wrong.

“A few weeks ago she decided to buy Chloe a townhouse in Oregon near her father to get her all set up and looked after,” another friend says, adding Olivia’s had a couple of scares in the past when

‘Olivia needs every ounce of her energy to fight it’

she felt “overtired and something mething about her body was not right” ght” but she “kept it hidden”.

“Now she thinks it’s because use she secretly sensed she wasn’t well.”

The friend says telling Chloe the news was incredibly hard. ard.

“Chloe has already been through this experience with her mum as a little girl and it was a big shock for her then, so Olivia knew she had to tread carefully.

“But she’s being very mature,ature, wanting to comfort her mumum – she wants to help by givingng her as much love as possible.”

After the news was announcedunced last week, Chloe took to Instagram to echo Olivia’s positivity. “I want to thank all of you for your love and support.pport. My mom and best friend is s going to be fine!” she wrote.

Aussies also came out in a beautiful show of support. rt.

Close friend John Farnham am said Olivia is being incrediblybly brave, and fellow singer Tinana Arena and pop star Delta Goodrem, who has credited d Olivia with helping her through her own battle withth Hodgkin’s lymphoma, alsoo sent their wishes.