Sylvia Millecam
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Millecam was a Dutch
actress and comedian
. She was featured regularly on Dutch television, hosting several shows, appearing in nationwide distributed movies and releasing two albums.
She died of breast cancer
in 2001. Her death caused controversy as she had refused treatment that could have possibly saved her, because she was advised to do so by "healing medium
" Jomanda
.
. Millecam became famous after appearing in popular television shows like Ook Dat Nog (based on That's Life!
on the BBC
) and "Buitenlandse Zaken", a show with sketches and political satire
.
She was named most popular Dutch television personality hosted by the Tros
(a Dutch broadcasting company) twice in a row (beating Linda de Mol
who would come second on these occasions).
Sylvia posed for Playboy twice, once in 1989 and a second time in 1994. In 1994 she had her own show, The Sylvia Millecam Show, and several years later Miss Millecam, both on RTL4.
In 1999 Millecam was diagnosed with possible breast cancer
. Her condition was confirmed in 2000. (Before this, and probably unrelated, Millecam had suffered ruptured breast implants.) Although she visited several regular doctors, she chose to forgo regular treatment and instead sought second opinions
from several paranormal and alternative healers
including the Dutch new age
guru
, Jomanda
. Millecam's condition steadily worsened, and she was eventually moved to a regular hospital at a time when the tumor was so large as to be beyond medical treatment. She died in the hospital in Nijmegen two days later, after receiving the last rites
.
On 19 June 2007, three physicians who were involved in alternative therapies of Millecam, were prohibited to continue their work as physicians. Two of them permanently, the other for one year.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
actress and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. She was featured regularly on Dutch television, hosting several shows, appearing in nationwide distributed movies and releasing two albums.
She died of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 2001. Her death caused controversy as she had refused treatment that could have possibly saved her, because she was advised to do so by "healing medium
Medium
- Communication :* Medium , storage and/or transmission tools used to store and deliver information or data* Transmission medium, in physics and telecommunications, any material substance which can propagate waves or energy...
" Jomanda
Jomanda
Johanna Wilhelmina Petronella Damman, known under her nickname Jomanda , is a controversial Dutch New Age guru who refers to herself as the Lady of the light.- Background :...
.
Biography
Millecam was born in The Hague and later moved to BoxmeerBoxmeer
Boxmeer is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. It incorporates the former municipality of Beugen en Rijkevoort and that of Vierlingsbeek.- Population centres :...
. Millecam became famous after appearing in popular television shows like Ook Dat Nog (based on That's Life!
That's Life!
That's Life! was a magazine-style television series on BBC1 between 26 May 1973 and 19 June 1994, presented by Esther Rantzen throughout the entire run, with various changes of co-presenters. The show was generally recorded about an hour prior to transmission, which was originally on Saturday...
on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
) and "Buitenlandse Zaken", a show with sketches and political satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
.
She was named most popular Dutch television personality hosted by the Tros
Tros
In Greek mythology, Tros was a ruler of Troy and the son of Erichthonius by Astyoche or of Ilus I, from whom he inherited the throne. Tros was the father of three sons: Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymedes. He is the eponym of Troy, also named Ilion for his son Ilus...
(a Dutch broadcasting company) twice in a row (beating Linda de Mol
Linda de Mol
Linda Margaretha de Mol , known as Linda de Mol, is a Dutch actress and television presenter in the Netherlands and in Germany. She is the sister of Endemol founder John de Mol...
who would come second on these occasions).
Sylvia posed for Playboy twice, once in 1989 and a second time in 1994. In 1994 she had her own show, The Sylvia Millecam Show, and several years later Miss Millecam, both on RTL4.
Illness and death
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Her condition was confirmed in 2000. (Before this, and probably unrelated, Millecam had suffered ruptured breast implants.) Although she visited several regular doctors, she chose to forgo regular treatment and instead sought second opinions
Second opinion (medicine)
A second opinion is a visit to a physician other than the one a patient has previously been seeing in order to get a differing point-of-view. Second opinions may be sought by a patient under the following circumstances:*Physician recommends surgery....
from several paranormal and alternative healers
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
including the Dutch new age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, Jomanda
Jomanda
Johanna Wilhelmina Petronella Damman, known under her nickname Jomanda , is a controversial Dutch New Age guru who refers to herself as the Lady of the light.- Background :...
. Millecam's condition steadily worsened, and she was eventually moved to a regular hospital at a time when the tumor was so large as to be beyond medical treatment. She died in the hospital in Nijmegen two days later, after receiving the last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
.
On 19 June 2007, three physicians who were involved in alternative therapies of Millecam, were prohibited to continue their work as physicians. Two of them permanently, the other for one year.
Sources
- Sylvia's funeral (article in Dutch)
- Dutch television history archive (in Dutch)
- Netherlands to crack down on complementary medicine BMJ, 28 February 2004
- Physicians forced to surrender licenses