The 59-year-old actress made the emotional revelation while accepting the Award of Courage at the 2026 amfAR Gala Venezia in Venice, Italy. She recalled being diagnosed with hepatitis C in the late 1990s, when effective cures were not yet available.

Anderson said her doctor had described the diagnosis as a “death sentence” and warned that she probably had around 10 years to live. She said the news deeply affected her decisions, especially because she feared what could happen to her young children, Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger.

Hepatitis C treatment changed her future

Anderson has previously said she contracted the virus after sharing a tattoo needle with her former husband, Tommy Lee. She eventually underwent treatment and announced in 2015 that she had been cured of hepatitis C.

The actress recalled that paying for treatment consumed everything she had in her bank account at the time. Advances in hepatitis C treatment have since transformed the outlook for many patients, with modern antiviral medicines capable of curing the infection in most cases.

Pamela Anderson opens up about lasting impact

Despite recovering physically, Anderson said the experience left emotional scars. She described feelings of shame and guilt that continued to haunt her and said the diagnosis made her feel like “damaged goods.”

At the Venice gala, however, Anderson presented her journey as one of survival and resilience, describing herself as a victor rather than a victim.