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TV Star Valerie Harper Has Terminal Brain Cancer — Report

by Tracy Phillips | March 6, 2013 at 8:22 AM | Celebrities, TV News, XFINITY Streampix

Valerie Harper (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Actress Valerie Harper has revealed she has terminal brain cancer.

Harper, 73, tells People magazine that she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain.

Doctors say she has as little as three months left to live. Harper received the devastating news on Jan. 15.

“I was stunned,” Harper says of receiving the diagnosis. “And in the next minute I thought, ‘This could draw more attention to cancer research.’ I think there’s an opportunity to help people.”

“I don’t think of dying,” she tells People in the exclusive cover story. “I think of being here now.”

“Don’t miss your life,” Harper adds.

Harper previously battled lung cancer in 2009.

The TV star is best known for playing neurotic New Yorker Rhoda Morgenstern, Mary Richards’ sidekick in the classic sitcom “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-1977). Harper then starred in the successful spin-off, “Rhoda,” from 1974 to 1978.:(

Very sad to hear about her cancer.

I hope she does okay in her last days...brain cancer is the worst! (I lost my aunt from brain cancer).

So devastating to hear. Love Valerie Harper and the character of Rhoda will live on forever... :(

I had to write a piece about Valerie for my blog:
http://www.migueldante.com/2013/03/actress-valerie-harper-diagnosed-with.html#

so very sad - literally nothing you can do in that situation... :(

So sad. I hope she won't have to suffer pain. She seems to be accepting of it but I'm sure she is still afraid. I know I would be. I have been watching my Mary Tyler Moore dvd's and Rhoda is so funny! I love her character I also read her book recently. God bless her and her family. Love to you Valerie!:heart: :heart: :heart:

My mom had brain cancer. She didn't linger long. One month. She was 83.
I am so sorry to hear about Valerie. She is still young. She was so funny as Rhoda.

That's sad. She was funny as Rhoda on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

This makes me so sad. I actually cried when I read it earlier. Praying for peace for her and her family. :(

My prayers are with her.

It speaks volumes about the character of the woman that one of her first thoughts after her diagnoses was that this was an opportunity to help other people! God bless you Valerie!!

She has been in my prayers since I heard the news.

This makes me so sad. I actually cried when I read it earlier. Praying for peace for her and her family. :(
Me too!! I get misty-eyed every time I think about this whole thing, so I try not to dwell on it too much. :( The same day I heard about her diagnosis was the same day I found out one of my fave shows (which has been on the air for 10 years now) is ending this year... I was seriously so bummed! I haven't been this bummed about showbiz news since John Ritter died. (I cried a lot that day!)

I literally squee'd when I was at B&N in January and saw her new book on the non-fiction new releases table. Adore her, always have. I don't remember a time when I didn't adore her - I unfortunately was not born in the 1970s (or early enough to have been able to watch MTM/Rhoda in the 70s), but the reruns were on when I was a kid so I watched them and loved them. Her new book is FREAKING AWESOME. I finished it in 3 days, I think. :)

Also the name Valerie was up for consideration when my mom was pregnant with me - so it's neat to think about.

Me too!! I get misty-eyed every time I think about this whole thing, so I try not to dwell on it too much. :( The same day I heard about her diagnosis was the same day I found out one of my fave shows (which has been on the air for 10 years now) is ending this year... I was seriously so bummed! I haven't been this bummed about showbiz news since John Ritter died. (I cried a lot that day!)

I literally squee'd when I was at B&N in January and saw her new book on the non-fiction new releases table. Adore her, always have. I don't remember a time when I didn't adore her - I unfortunately was not born in the 1970s (or early enough to have been able to watch MTM/Rhoda in the 70s), but the reruns were on when I was a kid so I watched them and loved them. Her new book is FREAKING AWESOME. I finished it in 3 days, I think. :)

Also the name Valerie was up for consideration when my mom was pregnant with me - so it's neat to think about.

Oh Alison! You make me feel ancient!:lol: I was married for 2 years when MTM debuted in 1970. My husband and I never missed Saturday night tv back then. We watched All In The Family, The Bob Newhart Show, MTM and The Carol Burnett Show. They sure don't have lineups like that anymore!:( My husband had crushes on Valerie and Suzanne Pleshette. He likes dark haired women! :D I am a blonde. He and I both thought that Rhoda was the beauty on MTM. Oh well, back to the subject. This is just so sad. Her book was great! My favorite episode is "Rhoda The Beautiful" where she wins Hempel's beauty contest. It was so touching when Rhoda finally told Mary that she actually won. She was almost in tears that she, "Rhoda", actually won! I get teary when I watch that.:( I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Valerie! :heart:

God bless you, Val!!!

I was truly sad to hear about the news. I just hope that she doesn't suffer. Rhoda's one of my all time favorite characters, and Valerie is one of my favorite actresses.

I feel the way all of you do. I felt sick and saddened when I heard the news. I like Valerie very much as an actress but more importantly, as a person. She has worn her fame well. I'm praying for a miracle for her, that she will be with us for a while, and without any suffering. She really is a lovely woman.