Actress Fawcett reassures fans

The actress received alternative cancer treatments in Germany

US actress Farrah Fawcett has moved to reassure fans she is not "at death's door" after being admitted to hospital.

Speaking through a friend, Craig Nevius, she said she "recently checked into a Los Angeles hospital" but was not, as reported, unconscious.

"Farrah has hope, and she hopes that others will continue to hold onto theirs" Nevius added.

The 62-year-old Charlie's Angels star was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and recently underwent treatment in Europe.

Nevius, who is producing a documentary about Fawcett's battle with cancer, said it was highly unusual for the actress to make an on-the-record statement in response to press reports.

He said she was "allowing this statement out of appreciation for her fans, who have offered their constant support throughout her fight."

Nevius told the Associated Press: "She's doing fantastic. Her fight goes on. She's not going anywhere anytime soon.

"As previously reported by everybody, she's not unconscious. She is not on death's door. The family has not gathered to say goodbye" he added.

'In good spirits'

Fawcett's doctor, Laurence Piro, confirmed in a statement that the treatment the actress had received in Germany had "caused a small amount of bleeding in one of the muscles of her abdomen, making a hematoma, which was quite painful".

He continued: "That pain, which was coming from the hematoma, had nothing directly to do with the cancer."

Fawcett had been pictured in a wheelchair on her way to hospital. Dr Piro made it clear that this was due to the actress finding it painful to walk.

The doctor said: "She remains in good spirits with her usual sense of humour.

"She's been in great shape her whole life and has an incredible resolve and an incredible resilience".

Diagnosed with anal cancer in September 2006, Fawcett declared herself cancer-free four months later, only to have the disease return in May 2007.

She shared her experiences of battling the disease with footage she released to the media in 2008.

Her big TV break came in 1976 when producer Aaron Spelling cast her in Charlie's Angels as one of the crime-fighting heroines.

Separately, Los Angeles police say the star's 24-year-old son with actor Ryan O'Neal has been arrested on a drug charge just months after he and his father were charged with drug possession.

Redmond O'Neal was arrested on suspicion of bringing drugs into a jail and is currently being held on $25,000 (£17,000) bail.

He was previously arrested in September and charged with possession of methamphetamine while on probation for a previous drug conviction.