Angela "Big Ang" Raiola is alive despite a rumor that she died of cancer.
"The news that has been reported is TOTALLY INACCURATE," her rep tweeted in a statement late Wednesday. "Please respect her family, and their privacy at this time. ... Angela is still in the hospital surrounded by her loved ones, and is fighting."
A lifelong smoker, Raiola, 55, beat throat cancer last year only to learn this winter that the disease had spread to her brain and lungs – and that despite chemotherapy, her tumors were growing in size.
During an appearance on The Dr. Oz Show on Tuesday, the fan-favorite reality star revealed doctors had given her a 30 percent chance of survival.
"It's shocking what happened," she said. "First I thought I was cancer-free. I was gonna have a big celebration … and then a month later I was stage 4."
Model Carmen Carrera, who appeared alongside Raiola on Couple's Therapy, also disputed the false reports of her friend's passing, speaking to PEOPLE to encourage Twitter to "pray for a miracle instead of gossiping."
Carrera says she has been receiving minute-by-minute updates of Raiola though her estranged husband Neil Murphy.
"She's still breathing. She's off the breathing machine because of her ammonia. The doctor is only giving her a few hours," Carrera tells PEOPLE. "She was so close to all of us. We are so sad right now."
Mob Wives Star Angela 'Big Ang' Still Alive and 'Fighting' Despite False Reports, Rep Says
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