Calum Best Reveals Late Cancer Diagnosis For Mother Angie

Calum Best, the son of football legend George Best and former model Angie Best, has offered a deeply personal and emotional account of his mother’s struggle with cancer, shedding light on the challenges, choices, and uncertainties that have marked her journey. On January 28, 2026, Calum, 44, appeared on Good Morning Britain to share the difficult news that his 73-year-old mother had been diagnosed with colon cancer—news that came, he revealed, “quite late.”

This late diagnosis, according to Calum, was partly the result of Angie’s lifelong commitment to alternative medicine. “She prides herself in being so healthy, so sharing of wellness that it wouldn’t happen to her,” Calum said on the program, as reported by The Mirror. Angie, a firm believer in holistic health, initially turned to a homeopath when she began experiencing troubling symptoms. The homeopath diagnosed her with Lyme disease, and Angie began a regimen of herbs and tinctures—remedies she had long trusted. But as the weeks passed, her condition only worsened.

“Respectfully, something wasn’t seen,” Calum acknowledged, careful not to lay blame but clearly frustrated by the delay. “She took the herbs and the tinctures, which she prides herself in, but it wasn’t getting better.” Eventually, Calum persuaded his mother to see a medical doctor. The news was devastating: Angie had colon cancer, and a 30cm tumor was found in her colon. Not only that, but the cancer had already spread to her liver.

“You reach this point where you have to trust the medical professionals and the advice of doctors,” Calum told viewers, his voice breaking with emotion. He urged others not to ignore persistent symptoms and to seek medical advice early, a message echoed in his plea: “Please let’s go get checked.”

Angie’s diagnosis has been a shock, not just because of its severity, but because of the contrast with her healthy lifestyle. “For as long as I can remember, she has lived her life rooted in health, fitness and wellbeing,” Calum reflected in a social media post earlier in January. “She has always believed in taking care of the body, mind and soul. But as we all know, cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care where you’re from, how you live, or how healthy you try to be. And now, it’s here—and it’s with my mum.”

Faced with the grim reality of her illness, Angie chose to undergo treatment in Switzerland, where she is receiving both chemotherapy and mistletoe therapy—a complementary treatment using extracts from the European mistletoe plant. This therapy, popular in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, is believed by some practitioners to stimulate the immune system and improve quality of life for cancer patients. However, as Daily Mail and other UK outlets have pointed out, major UK cancer organizations consider the evidence for mistletoe therapy as a cure to be inconclusive, and it is not offered as a standard treatment on the NHS. Angie is using it alongside, not instead of, conventional chemotherapy.

Her first round of chemotherapy has taken a heavy toll. On January 27, Angie posted a raw and distressing video message from her hospital bed in Switzerland. “Advice needed: I know a lot of you have been through this, but I can’t function, I can’t lift my head up, I can’t brush my teeth, I can’t eat. It’s terrible,” she confessed, coughing and visibly unwell. “Any advice there, homies?” she asked, reaching out to her online community for support. In a caption, she added, “Apparently feeling like this is normal. Nothing normal about it ffs. If you’re suffering right now, we’re here for each other.”

Calum was quick to respond with words of encouragement: “I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way and going through this, it will pass and we come out even better. I love you.” The outpouring of support extended beyond family—EastEnders actress Samantha Womack, herself a cancer survivor, commented, “I wish I was with you… It’s rough at the beginning. I’m sending you all my love.”

The financial burden of specialist treatment abroad has added another layer of stress. Calum, candid about the costs, has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Angie’s care. “This is incredibly hard for me to say, but financially, I can’t carry this on my own,” he admitted. “Any contribution, no matter how small, will help us access the specialists, treatment and care my mum needs during this time.”

Throughout this ordeal, Calum has been open about the emotional toll. “There’s a lot going on internally. On a personal level, work keeps me sane, fitness keeps me sane,” he said, referencing the loss of his father, George Best, in 2005 after a long battle with alcoholism and health issues. “I did all I could about the other parent and now I’ll do all I can about this parent.”

Despite the severity of her illness and the grueling effects of chemotherapy, Angie remains, in her son’s words, “a trooper.” Calum has repeatedly praised her strength, noting how she continues to fight even as the treatment leaves her “wiped out.”

Angie’s story is a sobering reminder that cancer can strike anyone, regardless of lifestyle or beliefs. It also highlights the complex decisions patients and families face when choosing between alternative and conventional treatments, especially when time is of the essence. Calum’s message to others is clear: don’t delay, trust medical professionals, and seek support when you need it.

As Angie continues her treatment in Switzerland, surrounded by the love and encouragement of her son and supporters around the world, her journey stands as a testament to resilience, the importance of early detection, and the power of community in the face of life’s toughest battles.