Valerie Harper Is Not Cancer-Free: "I Have Hope for the Future"

Actress issued a statement in response to an "erroneous quote" in Closer Weekly

By Jordana Ossad Apr 16, 2014 9:55 PMTags
Valerie Harper Paul Redmond/WireImage

Despite reports to the contrary, Valerie Harper is not cancer-free.

After an "erroneous quote" in Closer Weekly, in which the TV icon reportedly declared she was "absolutely cancer-free," Harper issued a response on Wednesday concerning her health.

"I am not 'absolutely cancer-free,'" the 74-year-old said in a statement via the Hallmark Channel. "I wish I were. Right now what I am is cautiously optimistic about my present condition and I have hope for the future."

In March 2013, the Mary Tyler Moore Show actress broke the news that she had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and was given as little as three months to live.

Harper, a lifelong nonsmoker who was previously diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2009, had been making the promotional rounds for her memoir, I, Rhoda, in January 2013 when she fell ill.

Harper revealed that numerous tests showed she had leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare disorder in which cancer cells metastasize into the fluid-filled membrane enveloping the brain.

However, Harper remained upbeat.

During an appearance on Good Morning America, shortly after her initial diagnosis, the Rhoda star told co-anchor (and cancer survivor) Robin Roberts, "Everybody, don't go to the funeral until the day of the funeral. Live this day."

Since her diagnosis, she has participated on Dancing With the Stars and will appear on two episodes of Hallmark Channel's new original series Signed, Sealed, Delivered.