Veteran U.S. TV actress Charlotte Rae has beaten cancer.
The 86-year-old Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes star was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009 after discovering she had a cyst on her pancreas - and she feared the worst because the disease claimed the lives of her mother, sister and uncle.
She tells the Globe, "It (cancer) was contained, but it was growing fast."
Top Los Angeles surgeon Howard Reber was able to cut off the tail of Rae's pancreas, which contained the cancerous cyst and she then started a six-month course of chemotherapy to stop the disease from spreading.
She says, "My last treatment was on my 84th birthday, April 22, 2010. I continue to have check-ups every two to three months and after three scans, everything shows I'm cancer free. It's truly a miracle.
"With expert medical attention and (the) support of friends and loved ones, I am still here. I'm profoundly grateful."