Jennifer Brown/for New York Daily NewsAngela Raiola
The final season of “Mob Wives” is starting under a very dark cloud.
Celebrations to mark the sixth season of the hit VH1 show has been marred by grave concerns about the show’s most beloved cast member, Angela (Big Ang) Raiola.
Confidenti@l is told that while the season is expected to end on a high note – with the news that she had beaten throat cancer – the disease returned soon after filming ended.
Sources say the larger-than-life star began chemotherapy last week. She cut her hair early this month in preparation for the hair loss.
The niece of mobster Salvatore Lombardi was expected to make a brief appearance at a premiere party at the Funky Monkey Bar in Staten Island on Wednesday night.
Raiola – who has also starred in her own spinoffs “Big Ang” and “Miami Monkey” – announced in March of 2015 that she had a large tumor in her throat.
She underwent two major surgeries a week later to remove the lump and the lymph nodes.
“The doctors are saying that I’m a very lucky person,” she told People magazine in September, “I caught this at stage 2.”
In December it was reported that the cancer had returned. Sources tell us that the diagnosis is more serious than it was last year.
In a new year’s message on Instagram, Railoa – who is married to Neil Murphy and has two children – wrote that in 2015 she “experienced the one battle that made me value everything I have, and I beat it, and am planning to do it again,” adding, “These are the things that will keep me going strong with as positive an outlook as I can have.”
“All I can say is that prayers are with her,” fellow cast member and friend Renee Graziano told Confidenti@l, “I hope for nothing but happiness and health and we pray that she recovers and that she’s back to just being Big Ang and enjoying her life.”
Graziano declined to comment further on Raiola’s health. “That’s something for Angela to discuss – I really don’t speak on other people’s health and I don’t feel comfortable,” she added, “I just hope for the best and hope that she’s ok.”
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