I have cervical cancer, says Canto-pop diva Anita Mui

SHOWING SUPPORT: Chan hugging Mui during the press conference in Hong Kong Friday. At left is Tse. Mui has vowed to fight her cancer and continue with her singing career. - Reuterspic

HONG KONG: Anita Mui, a Hong Kong movie star and pop singer, said yesterday she is suffering from cervical cancer but vowed to fight the disease and maintain her career. 

“I have cancer. I have cervix cancer ... but it has not reached the terminal stage and my time is not up yet,” said the 40-year-old Canto-pop diva at a press conference following media speculation of her deteriorating health. 

More than 20 celebrities, including action film legend Jackie Chan, one-time Bond girl Michelle Yeoh, and Canto-pop singers Jackie Cheung and Nicholas Tse, stood behind her in a show of support. 

Mui, wearing a knit cap and a sleeveless black jersey, said she had a benign tumour more than a year ago but it turned cancerous recently. 

She said she has been undergoing treatment and vowed to continue with her singing career. 

“I am not a weak person, although I am a patient,” she said. “I can tell you that I have never had any fears and I will win this fight.” 

Mui also urged local paparazzi not to disturb other patients if she has to go to hospitals for treatment. 

Mui rose to stardom in the 1980s after she won a local singing competition. 

Canto-pop refers to hits sung in Cantonese, the dialect of Chinese that is most widely spoken in Hong Kong and also spoken in many overseas Chinese communities. – AP