Pamela Anderson Recalls Hepatitis C Prognosis

Pamela Anderson has revealed the profound impact of her hepatitis C diagnosis, recounting how doctors gave her "around 10 years to live" when she was diagnosed in the late 1990s. The actress shared her experience during a speech at the amfAR Gala in Venice on Sunday, September 6, 2026, where she was honored with the organization's Award of Courage. Anderson, 59, described the prognosis as a "death sentence" that significantly influenced her decisions, not out of fear for herself, but for her young children, Brandon and Dylan, who are now 30 and 28 respectively. She explained that the diagnosis "turned my life inside out" and that the fear for her sons' future colored her outlook. The viral infection, which causes liver inflammation and can lead to serious liver damage, was contracted by Anderson, she believes, by sharing a tattoo needle with her ex-husband Tommy Lee. She publicly disclosed her diagnosis in 2002. A cure for hepatitis C was discovered in 2011, and by 2015, Anderson was free of the virus. However, she noted that achieving this cure came at a significant financial cost, stating, "It took everything I had in my bank to pay for treatment.