Sixteen years after being diagnosed with Hepatitis C, Pamela Anderson revealed that she has been cured of the virus.
The Baywatch alum shared the news on Instagram, where she celebrated by sharing a naked picture of herself. The announcement comes on the heels of a new FDA-approved treatment she tried over the summer.
"I am CURED!!! - I just found out #nomorehepc #thankyou #blessing #family #prayer #live I pray anyone living with Hep C can qualify or afford treatment. It will be more available soon," she captioned the sexy pic. "I know treatment is hard to get still...#dontlosehope #itworkedforme #thereisacure #love #happy #americanliverfoundation #celebration #Idontknowwhattodo #iwanttohelp"
Doctors diagnosed Anderson in 2002. She claimed she contracted it after sharing a tattoo needle with now ex-husband Tommy Lee. Before trying this new treatment plan, Anderson had experimented with other alternative medicines. She previously told People magazine that her diagnosis originally felt like a "death sentence."
"I think it really worked on my self esteem," she revealed. "Even though I may have looked confident on the outside, I think it really was a dark cloud that lingered over me."
Prior to this new treatment, the virus was considered incurable. "I don't have any liver damage and I don't have any side effects," she told the magazine. "I'm living my life the way I want to but it could have eventually have caused me some problems and so it was a real blessing that I was able to get the medicine. I'm halfway there.
"I'm really excited," she continued. "I feel good. I feel so blessed."
Although she didn't let her disease deter her spirit, Anderson said she feels happier and healthier than ever thanks to the success of her new treatment. "I actually just look in the mirror everyday and I feel like I'm looking younger and younger and I feel like I'm getting those 20 years back," she said.
Congratulations!