The reality TV star, who is now battling stage 4 brain and lung cancer, is “in the hospital surrounded by her loved ones, and is fighting”, according to her representative, who took to Twitter to clarify her health status on Wednesday night.
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Ang was diagnosed with throat cancer throat cancer in March 2015 and revealed that even though she had smoked for 40 years she quit smoking that very day.
Big Ang is survived by two children and six grandchildren.
Julia Xanthos/New York Daily News Big Ang at home with friends Jennifer Patafio (r.) and Linda Torres (c.) while filming for her show on VH1 in Staten Island in 2012.
The “Mob Wife” also expressed her gratitude for her kids and grandkids, saying: “If it wasn’t for them, how would I get through this?”.
Raiola thought she was cured but was surprised to learn a month later that her cancer has progressed. “Then a month later I was stage 4”, she said on the show, adding “I can’t make sense of this”.
Carrera says she has been receiving minute-by-minute updates of Raiola though her estranged husband Neil Murphy.
Today, Ang appeared on The Dr. Oz Show for her first interview since learning that the cancer had returned. I would rather be by myself. Later, in June, she underwent the same procedure for the right side of her throat as well. “I would rather be alone”. Reached by phone, her sister Janine Detore said Ang was not well.
Big Ang was known her for oversized lips, vulptuous breasts and, of course, her larger-than-life personality.
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Doctors have given the “Mob Wives” fixture a 30 percent chance of survival.
