Cancer ordeal for Koo
Koo Stark, the former girlfriend of Prince Andrew, is suffering from breast cancer.
The 46-year-old American actress has undergone a series of operations to remove a lump and lymph gland tumours.
She will begin an intensive course of chemotherapy this week.
The actress's mother Kathi has also fought cancer in the past and her father Wilbur died of the disease in 1995 at the age of 82.
A friend of Miss Stark said: 'She went to the doctor for a routine check-up some months ago. He found a lump on her breast and sent her for further tests.
'It was quickly discovered that she had breast cancer and that it was spreading to her lymphatic system.
'During the last two weeks she has had a number of operations. The surgery includes the removal of suspected tumours in her lymph glands.
'As if that wasn't enough for her to have to deal with, she now has to go through chemotherapy, which is a terrible ordeal in itself.'
Miss Stark, who has a five-year-old daughter Tatiana by multi-millionaire investment analyst Warren Walker, is understood to be undergoing the treatment in the U.S.
She began dating Prince Andrew in 1982 but the relationship foundered over her earlier appearance in a soft porn film.
Most watched News videos
- Horror as sword-wielding man goes on rampage in east London
- Protesters form human chain to stop migrant removal from London hotel
- Two heart-stopping stormchaser near-misses during tornado chaos
- Police officers taser and detain sword-wielding man in Hainault
- Moment van crashes into passerby before sword rampage in Hainault
- Police and protestors blocking migrant coach violently clash
- Terrifying moment Turkish knifeman attacks Israeli soldiers
- Police and protestors blocking migrant coach violently clash
- Police arrive in numbers to remove protesters surrounding migrant bus
- Protesters slash bus tyre to stop migrant removal from London hotel
- Hainault: Tributes including teddy and sign 'RIP Little Angel'
- Manchester's Co-op Live arena cancels ANOTHER gig while fans queue