Soul singer Natalie Cole has revealed that she is suffering from Hepatitis C

Natalie Cole has revealed that she is suffering from hepatitis C.

The disease was discovered during a routine examination, the 58-year-old singer's spokesman said.

Miss Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole, is thought to have contracted the potentially deadly virus from past drug use.

She was addicted to LSD, cocaine and heroin before becoming clean in 1984 following a stay in rehab.

Her doctors said she has fatigue, muscle aches and dehydration - the side effects from the treatment for hepatitis C - but that her treatment is otherwise going well.

Dr Graham Woolf, associate clinical professor of medicine at UCLA/ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the U.S., said: 'Natalie has had a terrific response to her medication and is now virus negative.

'This gives her an increased chance of cure.'

The Grammy award-winning star said: 'I am embraced by the love and support of my family and friends.

'I am committed to my belief in myself and in my abiding faith to meet this challenge with a heartfelt optimism and determination.'

The singer, whose father died of lung cancer when she was 15, said: 'This is how I intend to deal with this current challenge in my life.'

Marianne Faithfull recently revealed she has been suffering from hepatitis C.

Dame Anita Roddick, the late Bodyshop founder, also had the virus, contracted from a blood transfusion while giving birth to her daughter.

Known as a silent killer because it can remain undetected for 20 years, hepatitis C can cause fatal liver problems.

Most patients, however, can be cleared of the virus with a course of medicine.

A spokesman said the treatment was not expected to interfere with the release of Miss Cole's new album in September.

The singer, who has been married three times, earlier this year claimed that Amy Winehouse should not have received her Grammy.

Miss Cole, who has won eight of the music awards, said Miss Winehouse was being rewarded for her 'bad behaviour', adding: 'It sends a bad message to young people trying to get into this business, trying to do it right.'