Actor Ryan O'Neal has spoken out about his recent cancer diagnosis, assuring fans his health crisis isn't quite as bad as reported.
News of the Love Story star's battle with prostate cancer broke late on Friday (13Apr12) with a statement released to People.com.
It read: "Recently I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. Although I was shocked and stunned by the news, I feel fortunate that it was detected early and, according to my extraordinary team of doctors, the prognosis is positive for a full recovery."
But now the 70 year old, who fought leukaemia in the late 1990s, insists he has stage two cancer - and he has it "under control".
In an exclusive taped interview with U.S. news show Nightline, the actor says, "I wasn't prepared for it. I wasn't ready for it. But you never are."
O'Neal also tells the programme he has skin cancer - a melanoma - on his nose, joking, "Welcome to Malibu (California) and the sun!"