SYDNEY - New Zealand model-turned-actor Rachel Hunter, who had a lump removed from under her arm last month, has revealed other ailments, including a heart problem.
Hunter's physical wellbeing made the cover of two Australian women's magazines this week following the cancer scare over the lump, which turned out to be a benign cyst.
The estranged wife of veteran rocker Rod Stewart told Woman's Day that she was born with a heart murmur and there was a family history of early deaths from heart attacks.
She had also suffered from toxoplasmosis, a viral infection she caught from one of her cats when she was 13.
"I found out about the murmur when I was 12," she said.
"Having it checked is what's important.
"With the birth of my first child it worsened a bit and I had to take medication. But beyond that, I don't think a lot about it.
"I'm pretty healthy."
Hunter, aged 30, has two children from her marriage to Stewart. She said both had had their hearts checked and been given a clean bill of health.
Her weak heart and a desire to stay slim had led her to create her own fitness programme, which included 200 stomach crunches a session, Hunter said.
Meanwhile, New Idea reported that although Hunter and Stewart separated 15 months ago, the rock star was the first person she called when she had her cancer fright, and he had since kept in regular touch.
It also said the incident had convinced Los Angeles-based Hunter to slow down, take a break from partying and re-evaluate her life.
"This is forcing her to take it easy, rest and regroup," a friend said.
"She is meditating each day and will emerge from this even stronger and more determined to live each day to the full."
Hunter is pursuing an acting career in Hollywood and her latest role is in the movie Metal God, which will feature Friends star Jennifer Aniston and Boogie Nights' Mark Wahlberg.
- NZPA