David Bowie was feeling 'optimistic' about new cancer drug just weeks before his death

The music legend passed away aged 69 following an 18-month battle with cancer

David Bowie kept details of his illness private

David Bowie's close friend has told how the star was feeling "optimistic" about a new cancer drug just weeks before his death.

The music legend, 69, passed away on Sunday following an 18-month battle with cancer.

His close friend, film and theatre producer Robert Fox, has now revealed David was preparing to take an "experimental" new drug in the hope it would "prolong his life".

He told The Times newspaper: "He was feeling unwell but he wasn’t making a fuss about it. He was about to start a new treatment that was quite experimental and that had had some success in other people.

"He felt optimistic about it being able to prolong his life, hopefully in the belief there would be better and newer treatments that would come along."

It has been claimed that the Heroes singer, who kept details of his illness private, died from liver cancer.

Ivo van Hove, the director who worked on his stage show 'Lazarus', said: "I have known for about a year.

"We began collaborating on our show, 'Lazarus', and at some point he took me to one side to say that he wouldn’t always be able to be there due to his illness.

"He told me he had cancer, liver cancer.

"The cast didn’t know all that time, and I suspect that the musicians with whom he recorded 'Blackstar' didn’t know either.

"He made every effort to complete those two projects on time, not to let his illness win.”

Meanwhile, a friend of Bowie's wife Iman said the grief-stricken supermodel is "holding up" following David's death.

Speaking about how she's coping, former model and fashion activist Bethann Hardison told PEOPLE: "She's fine. We're fine. We're holding up.

"It comes in waves, you know. He's a great loss – not just a loss as an artist, but as a human."

Days before her husband lost his battle with cancer, Iman hinted at the devastating news that was to follow.

"Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory," a post on Instagram read.

Her last post said: "The struggle is real but so is God."

God Bless You David You Will Be Missed By Many ... Love and Best Future Wishes To His Family

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