Angie Best, the former wife of football icon George Best, has posted a heartfelt update from a hospital bed in Switzerland as she undergoes an unconventional 'mistletoe' chemotherapy treatment following a recent cancer diagnosis.
An Emotional Hospital Update
The 73-year-old shared a photo on Instagram on Thursday, showing her connected to an IV drip in the medical facility. In the snapshot, she is seated in a hospital bed with medical apparatus, including bags of IV fluid, visible beside her.
Captioning the poignant image, Angie wrote: "Trying to fake a smile, didn't realise how sick I was, couldn't wait so in Switzerland for chemo with Mistletoe, a sincere heartfelt thank you to you my Homies for your kindness."
This update comes just over a week after her son, Calum Best, 44, revealed publicly that his mother had been diagnosed with colon cancer that has metastasised, or spread, to her liver.
What is Mistletoe Therapy?
The treatment Angie is receiving utilises extracts from the European mistletoe plant. It is an alternative cancer therapy that has been used in Europe for decades, particularly in countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
Some practitioners believe it can stimulate the immune system and improve quality of life for patients. However, its effectiveness as a cure remains a topic of debate in mainstream medicine, and it is not a standard, approved treatment on the NHS due to a lack of conclusive robust evidence.
It is often used alongside conventional chemotherapy, which appears to be the case for Angie. Her post attracted an outpouring of support from friends and followers.
Family Support and a Public Appeal
Her son Calum expressed his love in the comments, writing: "You are some woman and I love you so much, we got this". Well-wishes also came from TV presenter Jenny Powell and model Paul Sculfor.
Angie also shared sceptical views about conventional cancer treatments, posting a meme questioning research spending and outcomes.
This follows Calum's emotional video announcement earlier this month, where he disclosed his mother's diagnosis and launched a GoFundMe page to help fund her specialist care. He stated that financially, he could not shoulder the costs alone and appealed for public contributions.
In her own message at the time, Angie pledged she was 'ready to fight' the disease, noting that consultations and research require significant funds.
Angie and George Best's story began in 1975 in Los Angeles. It was reportedly love at first sight, and they married on 24 January 1978. They had their son Calum in 1981 but separated the following year, divorcing in 1986 amid George's well-documented struggles with alcoholism. George Best died in 2005 at age 59.
Bowel cancer, which includes colon cancer, affects over 41,200 people annually in the UK. Key symptoms include bleeding from the bottom, blood in stools, a persistent change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness, and stomach pain. Survival rates are high when caught early at stage one, but many cases are diagnosed at a later stage.
