Ryan O'Neal -- NBC PhotoBe sure to have a fresh box of tissues handy if you tune in Friday night for for NBC's Farrah's Story.
You'll need them as you watch Farrah Fawcett shave her signature blonde locks.
The Charlie's Angels star shot the two-hour documentary of her nearly three-year battle with cancer using her own camcorder and provides the wrenching narration.
"Of all the things I've ever hoped for in my life, finding a doctor to surgically remove my anal cancer did not even make the top 1 million on my list," she says in the special.
"But now it was No. 1—No. 1 as in, primary cancer—meaning it was the first in and, for that reason, it needed to be the first out. Because it was this peanut-sized tumor that had sent its army of mutant cells into my liver. And it would continue to send reinforcements into any organ into my body unless someone did something to stop it."
The intimate footage shows all the highs and lows of the treatments, from side effects like vomiting to exuberant dancing coinciding with good news.
And, sadly, fans will witness the star as she loses her trademark tresses, combing it only to have it fall out into her hands. Impressively, she rallies and shaves it, leaving only her bangs.
Throughout the film, the 62-year-old actress remains—and remains today, according to her longtime love, Ryan O'Neal—a strong, optimistic fighter.
"Cancer is a disease that is mysterious, headstrong and makes its own rules. And mine, to this date, is incurable. I know that everyone will die eventually, but I do not want to die of this disease. I want to stay alive. So I say to God—because it is, after all, in his hands—it is seriously time for a miracle."
Like we said, you'll need some Kleenex. Consider yourself warned.
Farrah's Story makes its bow at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
(Originally published May 13, 2009, at 11:28 a.m. PT)
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