After beating breast cancer, Marianne Faithfull reveals she has hepatitis C

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The singer and actress said she discovered she had the life-threatening liver condition 12 years ago and it helped her realise how "precious" her health was.

Miss Faithfull, 60, made the revelation while discussing her battle with breast cancer, from which she was recently given the all-clear.

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Heyday: The actress and singer was an icon in the Swinging Sixties

Hepatitis C is contracted either through a contaminated blood transfusion or by sharing hypodermic needles.

There is no vaccine or standard treatment for the condition, which can cause liver damage, cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

Hepititis C: Marianne Faithfull says health is 'precious'

Miss Faithfull, a former drug addict, did not say whether she had picked up the virus during her heroin habit in the 1970s or subsequently.

She told Philip Schofield on ITV's This Morning: "I have hepatitis C and the worst thing for that is alcohol.

"I found out about 12 years ago. I was incredibly lucky. I shouldn't be alive - I know that.

"Life has become much more precious to me and my health has become much more precious to me.

"I do not miss the drugs. I suppose it would be nice to have a glass of wine or something but it really would not be good for my health."

Miss Faithfull surprised Schofield with the confession after going on the show to talk about her breast cancer, with which she was diagnosed in September last year.

The ex-smoker, who lives in Paris, postponed her world tour while attending the renowned Institute Gustave-Roussy, where Kylie Minogue was treated for the same disease.

Miss Faithfull said yesterday she had taken a "lot of risks" when she was younger but discovering she had cancer was a wake-up call.

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Film star: Marianne Faithfull's name was synonymous with sex

She added: "My breast cancer was absolutely minimal. I had the smallest thing you could have.

"I was really lucky and they found it early. But it is still a frightening experience and it humbled me.

"I realised how lucky I was to be alive at all and how stupid I had been to be so reckless with my life and my health."

The singer's spokesman Barbara Skydale said last night: "This is the first I have heard of it. I do not know how she got hepatitis C. It is not appropriate for me to comment further."