This is from E! online
In a surprise announcement Wednesday, Pamela Anderson said she was suffering from hepatitis C, and she blames the infection on ex-husband Tommy Lee.
Anderson says she contracted the disease, which can cause severe liver damage, after sharing a tattoo needle with the former Mtley Cre drummer.
"It is true I have hepatitis C and have undergone outpatient treatment at UCLA Medical Center," she says in a statement. "I contracted hepatitis C while sharing a tattoo needle with my ex-husband Tommy Lee."
In happier times, the couple famously celebrated their union in body art, including, in lieu of wedding bands, "ring" tattoos of each other's name. (After their acrimonious split in 1998, Pamela had hers changed to "Mommy.") Anderson also has a barbed wire tattoo (she starred in the film Barb Wire) on her left bicep.
Anderson, the former Playboy and Baywatch pinup who currently stars on the syndicated series V.I.P., says she didn't know about Lee's infection until she was diagnosed by a doctor.
"A mutual doctor confirmed this at the time. Tommy has the disease and never disclosed it to me during our marriage," she said.
Anderson, 34, and Lee, 39, are still battling over custody of their two young sons.
The actress, who now dates Kid Rock, says her announcement was prompted by Lee, who allegedly leaked the information. "In a pathetic attempt to discredit me [in the custody fight], he has decided to go public with this very private information."
There was no immediate comment from the Lee camp.
Hepatitis C affects about 3.9 million Americans. It is spread by blood-to-blood contact, usually by sharing intravenous needles or through unprotected sex. Although much less common, hepatitis C can, as apparently is the case with Anderson, be spread through dirty piercing and tattooing tools.
The disease causes swelling in the liver, which keeps the organ from performing its basic function of cleansing the blood, and can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. Between 8,000 and 10,000 people in America die each year due to complications from hepatitis C.
Doctors currently try to combat the disease by boosting the immune system--as opposed to attacking the virus--but the treatments aren't always successful.
<img src="http://members.aol.com/fajita4me/images/1100.jpg"height=100 width=300>
<b><font pt size=1>100 bullets....the comic book you should be reading!!</b></font>
This message was edited by erinmoran on 3-21-02 @ 9:14 AM