The actress, who starred in 1970s U.S. TV show Eight Is Enough, has been working as a dance instructor at a Santa Margarita, California studio in recent years, but she has been forced to rest up after learning she was battling the deadly disease.
A post on the dance studio's website reads, "Connie is currently in a battle with ovarian cancer and is temporarily unable to work.
Needham, 49, is determined to fight the illness and has received words of support from her former TV co-stars.
A source tells the National Enquirer, "She has her old pals from Eight Is Enough - including Dick Van Patten, Grant Goodeve and old boyfriend Willie Aames - rooting for her. Connie says she's going to fight as hard as she can.".