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Natalie Cole Diagnosed with Hepatitis C
By Brian Orloff

Originally posted Wednesday July 16, 2008 07:00 AM EDT

Natalie Cole has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, her rep confirms to
PEOPLE.

The Grammy-winning singer, 58, discovered she had the disease during a
routine visit to the doctor, but is responding well to treatment.

"Natalie has had a terrific response to her medication and is now
virus negative," Dr. Graham Woolf, Associate Clinical Professor of
Medicine at U.C.L.A./Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said in a
statement."This gives her an increased chance of cure."

Still, Cole has suffered side effects from the anti-viral medicine,
including fatigue, muscle aches and dehydration, but, "she is
recovering from these," Woolf said.

Doctors believe that Cole's illness is likely the result of drug usage
decades ago, which she documented her 2000 autobiography, Angel On My
Shoulder.

"I’ve been so fortunate to have learned so much from my past
experiences," said Cole. "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. This is how I intend to deal with this current
challenge in my life."

Cole is expected to release her latest album, Still Unforgettable on
Sept. 9.