Rhoda only has three months to live

**MutteringJohn** · 03-06-2013, 11:51 AM

Dave Groh her former TV husband and Nirvana band member is in tears.

Valerie Harper is facing a devastating diagnosis: terminal brain cancer.

The television icon – beloved for her role as brash New Yorker Rhoda Morgenstern onThe Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off,Rhoda – received the news on Jan. 15, she reveals to PEOPLE in this week's exclusive cover interview.

A battery of tests revealed she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain. Her doctors say she has as little as three months left to live.

Resolved to face her last days with courage and humor, "I don't think of dying," says the actress, 73, who previously battled lung cancer in 2009. "I think of being here now."

**peterfonda** · 03-06-2013, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by MutteringJohn

Dave Groh her former TV husband and Nirvana band member is in tears.

Valerie Harper is facing a devastating diagnosis: terminal brain cancer.

The television icon – beloved for her role as brash New Yorker Rhoda Morgenstern onThe Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off,Rhoda – received the news on Jan. 15, she reveals to PEOPLE in this week's exclusive cover interview.

A battery of tests revealed she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain. Her doctors say she has as little as three months left to live.

Resolved to face her last days with courage and humor, "I don't think of dying," says the actress, 73, who previously battled lung cancer in 2009. "I think of being here now."

I hate all kinds of cancer but especially brain cancer. It killed my mom at age 75 in 2006. She went from being a vibrant, active woman to a curled-up shell in a nursing home in a period of 18 months. Horrible experience.

That being said, brain cancer is a funny thing. A former boss of mine was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2000 and was given 3 to 6 months to live. He ended up living another 5 years. You never know.

**kicksave7** · 03-06-2013, 12:05 PM

Very sad. Too bad people like Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld couldn't get this instead of Valerie Harper...yeah...I said it.

**HowieStearn** · 03-06-2013, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by kicksave7

Very sad. Too bad people like Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld couldn't get this instead of Valerie Harper...yeah...I said it.

start wishing people dead based on party and politics we could be here for a long fucking time

**kicksave7** · 03-06-2013, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by HowieStearn

start wishing people dead based on party and politics we could be here for a long fucking time

Wasn't really thinking of these two in terms of politics...just two shitty people with no redeeming qualities.

**HowieStearn** · 03-06-2013, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by kicksave7

Wasn't really thinking of these two in terms of politics...just two shitty people with no redeeming qualities.

**Elisa Jane** · 03-07-2013, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by kicksave7

Very sad. Too bad people like Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld couldn't get this instead of Valerie Harper...yeah...I said it.

I love the Mary Tyler Moore reruns and the Rhoda character- Wow that sucks that Valerie Harper has terminal brain cancer, and yet Beth O. lives another day to clomp around in her size 14 shoes.

**DlistCelebutard** · 03-07-2013, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Elisa Jane

I love the Mary Tyler Moore reruns and the Rhoda character- Wow that sucks that Valerie Harper has terminal brain cancer, and yet Beth O. lives another day to clomp around in her size 14 shoes.

Her day is coming..

**TelegramSam** · 03-06-2013, 12:08 PM

She was a real piece of ass in her day, it's a shame. The 70's are slowly slipping away; I still can't believe rectal cancer killed Farah Fawcett.

**Dick Gozinya** · 03-06-2013, 12:08 PM

**MutteringJohn** · 03-06-2013, 12:16 PM

Rhoda and Julie Kavner/Marge Simpson. Julie became a Gazillionaire working on the Simpsons for 14 years, well maybe not a Gazillionaire but pretty close to it.

**BooeyBanana** · 03-06-2013, 12:16 PM

I thought she was great on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." It actually had good writing and characters you could remember, unlike
a lot of today's sitcoms. So sad to hear about this news.......not even sure if Jackie would be laughing at this one.

**Nick Manning** · 03-06-2013, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by BooeyBanana

I thought she was great on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." It actually had good writing and characters you could remember, unlike
a lot of today's sitcoms. So sad to hear about this news.......not even sure if Jackie would be laughing at this one.

But the Puppet would.

**BooeyBanana** · 03-06-2013, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Manning

But the Puppet would.

Good to know the Puppet's on top of things, as always!

**TaTa Toothy** · 03-06-2013, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by BooeyBanana

I thought she was great on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." It actually had good writing and characters you could remember, unlike
a lot of today's sitcoms.

I've been rewatching The Mary Tyler Moore Show lately. I agree with you about the writting and the characters, but the show really didn't hit it's stride until Rhoda left and the show focussed more on Mary and the newsroom gang. The early episodes with Rhoda and especially Pyhillis kind of suck. Harper and Leachman were hot as fuck back then, but their characters were incredibly annoying when viewed now.

**PappYawn** · 03-06-2013, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by TaTa Toothy

I've been rewatching The Mary Tyler Moore Show lately. I agree with you about the writting and the characters, but the show really didn't hit it's stride until Rhoda left and the show focussed more on Mary and the newsroom gang. The early episodes with Rhoda and especially Pyhillis kind of suck. Harper and Leachman were hot as fuck back then, but their characters were incredibly annoying when viewed now.

Well thank you geriatric TV Guide.

**SouthernListen** · 03-06-2013, 12:19 PM

"Doctor tells the patient he has 6 months to live. Guy couldn't pay his bill. Doc gives him another six months"

**Skyway** · 03-06-2013, 01:24 PM

Mary Tyler Moore's not looking too good these days either.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/cele...rave-last-days

What a shame. She's the first woman I had a crush on when I was a kid.

**peterfonda** · 03-06-2013, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Skyway

Mary Tyler Moore's not looking too good these days either.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/cele...rave-last-days

What a shame. She's the first woman I had a crush on when I was a kid.

Mary's had a lot of health issues, including severe diabetes for many years. She also had a benign brain tumor removed 2 years ago. That being said, she still looks awful and is not that old (76). Cloris Leachman and Betty White are much older than she is and they look a lot better.