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Farrah's Story a touching documentary of cancer treatment

May 17, 1:44 PMCable TV ExaminerChristine Nyholm
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Farrah’s Story premiered on May 14 on NBC and is scheduled to air again on MSNBC,  Oxygen and Bravo TV.  Actress Farrah Fawcett has been battling anal cancer since 2006. People who have lived through the devastating effects of cancer treatment may find this show very difficult to watch.  Alana Stewart filmed Farrah during doctor’s visits and cancer treatments, to make a record of her experiences. Ryan O’Neal, with whom Farrah has had a long relationship, has been at her side during this tryingActress Farrah Fawcett's longtime companion Ryan O'Neal, right, and Alana Stewart, producer of "Farrah's Story," arrive for the world premiere screening of the NBC documentary in Beverly Hills, Calif., Wednesday, May 13, 2009. The feature-length documentary chronicles Fawcett's two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) time.

The documentary starts out in a room with pictures and candles, almost looking like a funeral, and indeed, it is possibly Farrah’s goodbye, even as she holds out hope for a miracle. Miracles do happen. Farrah states frankly in the beginning that more than anything, she wants to live.  The desire to hang on to live trumps all other concerns when one is enduring cancer treatments.
Farrah Fawcett put friend Alana Stewart in charge of the camera and Alana proceeded to record moments painful and embarrassing, so that people could see what cancer looks like. Cancer is a cruel taskmaster and the cancer treatments are grueling and debilitating.
The documentary described the cancer and the medical treatments used to fight the tumor and spread of cancer and the effects of the treatment. The film could well serve as an instruction to cancer patients and their families, so they do not feel so alone if faced with a cancer diagnoses. Every cancer is a unique experience, so other cancer patients will have different experiences. However, the TV film does serve to show a very visible person’s journey.
There were moments of laughter and hope as well, as the living spirit fights to survive. Farrah Fawcett has been an icon for a generation or women and men. The former Charlie’s Angel’s star was famed for her poster in the red swimming suit and the flippy hairstyle that spawned a trend in women’s hairstyles. Farrah, who was originally from Texas, was the ultimate California Girl; blonde, slim, athletic and with a smile that lights up a room.  
Longtime love Ryan O’Neal, said in an interview on NBC on Friday, that they had hoped that revive Farrah enough to watch the television premiere of Farrah’s Story of Friday night, but that turned out to not be feasible as the actress was heavily sedated.
Farrah’s Story is scheduled to air again on MSNBC and Bravo.
  • MSNBC -  Sunday, May 17 at 6:00 PM ET
  • Bravo -  Monday, May 18 at 11:00 pm ET
  • Bravo - Tuesday, May 19 at 1:00 am ET

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Farrah's Story documentary premiere

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