Ananda Lewis, a former MTV VJ, has shared her journey with breast cancer, revealing the treatments she has undergone over nearly six years. While employing both holistic and traditional methods, Lewis has reported that some of her tumors are now undetectable.
In a recent discussion with CNN’s Stephanie Elam, who is among her close friends, and fellow breast cancer survivor Sara Sidner, Lewis emphasized the importance of life quality and adaptability in the face of her diagnosis. “If you extended your life, you won,” Lewis remarked. “Nobody gets out of here alive… My quality of life is very important to me.”
The 51-year-old television personality, known for her roles on BET’s “Teen Summit” and “The Ananda Lewis Show,” discovered a lump in her breast in January 2019. Initially pursuing alternative treatments that helped control the disease, she later faced a transition to Stage 4 breast cancer due to financial constraints and a lapse in treatment.
Lewis highlighted the alarming statistics surrounding Black women and breast cancer, expressing the historical distrust that affects their interactions with the medical community. She noted that while breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S., it disproportionately impacts Black women, who are diagnosed at a younger age and have higher mortality rates.
Upon her diagnosis, her doctors recommended a double mastectomy, but Lewis chose to explore alternative therapies despite differing opinions from her loved ones, including her sister, a physician and cancer survivor. “You have to do what works for you and only you,” she stated.
Determined to address the root causes of her cancer, Lewis adopted a regimen focused on detoxification and emotional healing. She documented her dietary changes and felt the approach was beneficial until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her resources.
Relocating to Arizona, Lewis started integrating both conventional and natural treatments, including chemotherapy, which reduced her cancer to Stage 2. However, financial challenges hindered her ability to maintain her holistic regimen, leading to a worsening of her condition.
By October 2023, scans revealed that her cancer had metastasized throughout her body, prompting severe pain and a serious contemplation of her mortality. Following a hip fracture and subsequent treatment resumption, Lewis has seen some positive outcomes, with certain tumors now undetectable.
Sara Sidner, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer last year, took a markedly different approach, opting for immediate surgery and aggressive treatments. Both women stressed the importance of self-exams, body awareness, and self-advocacy in the journey against breast cancer.
Elam, celebrating the bond among the three, expressed gratitude for their openness, stating that their shared experiences might inspire others to prioritize their health. “If we can get just one woman to get their mammogram because of this conversation, that’s success,” she noted.
Lewis commented on the importance of such discussions and expressed her hopes for everyone affected by cancer, emphasizing the strength found in community and support.