'I knew something was wrong': An emotional Olivia Newton-John, 72, reveals the terrifying moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer - as she announces her new foundation

Olivia Newton-John, 72, is battling stage-four metastatic breast cancer.

And this week, the Australian singer and actress recalled the terrifying moment she was diagnosed with the disease.

In a video announcing her new foundation to help other cancer sufferers, Olivia said that she 'knew immediately that something was wrong'.

'I am probably one of those people who's living beyond cancer, living beyond probably what people expected to happen,' Olivia said.

Speaking about her diagnosis, she added: 'I knew immediately something was wrong.

'I had a mammogram. The mammogram was benign and I had a needle biopsy that was also benign... I don't say this to scare women, but you have to just trust your instincts.'

Olivia explained that she then spoke to her doctor and agreed to get a surgical biopsy, and was then diagnosed with breast cancer. 

'All this was overwhelming. It was a feeling of dread, terror, the unknown,' she said, adding that she decided to be strong for her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.

'I made the decision that I would be okay. I had to believe I was going to be okay, that my daughter was the most important thing in my life and I would be okay for her,' she said.

Olivia has tried a variety of therapies, including meditation, acupuncture, massage and plant medicine, to heal her body - in addition to conventional medicine.

'I have seen the incredible beauty of the plants and their healing abilities... if I hadn't had that experience, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you about kinder therapies... your body wants to heal itself,' said the medicinal cannabis advocate. 

'That's why I'm excited to start this foundation.'

The Olivia Newton-John foundation aims to help fellow cancer sufferers. 

A note on the website reads: 'We will fund the discovery of kinder therapies and advocate for more effective ways to prevent, treat and cure all cancers.'

Olivia is battling stage-four metastatic breast cancer.

In January, the Australian icon gave fans a health update and revealed that her tumours had shrunk in size.

She told The Sunday Telegraph that using medicinal cannabis and natural remedies in addition to conventional medicine had improved her health.

'My tumours are receding or they're going away or they're staying the same, on a Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer — that's pretty amazing,' she said.

'If I hadn't had the experience I'm having with cannabis I wouldn't be able to talk about it.' 

Olivia, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and twice before in 1992 and 2013, has spent years lobbying the Australian government to approve the use of medicinal cannabis for cancer patients.