Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has revealed that her breast most cancers has progressed to stage IV after initially selecting to not endure conventional remedies, together with a double mastectomy.
Supply: Paul Archuleta / Getty
As beforehand reported Lewis, 51, initially shared her preliminary breast most cancers analysis in a 2020 Instagram publish, the place she defined her choice to keep away from mammograms for years attributable to issues about radiation publicity.
“For a extremely very long time, I’ve refused mammograms, and that was a mistake,” stated Lewis on the time whereas remembering her mother battle most cancers after having mamograms. “I watched my mother get mammograms for nearly 30 years, and on the finish of that, she had breast most cancers, and I stated, ‘Huh? Radiation publicity for years equals breast most cancers. Yeah, I’m going to cross. Thanks anyway.’”
“If I had achieved the mammograms from the time they had been advisable after I turned 40, they might’ve caught the tumor in my breast years earlier than I caught it by my very own self examination and thermography,” she continued. “And they might have caught it at a spot the place it was extra manageable. The place the therapy of it might have been slightly simpler. It’s by no means straightforward, however I exploit that phrase compared to what I’m going by now. As an alternative, what I’m coping with is stage 3 breast most cancers that’s in my lymphs. I want you to get your mammograms.”
Now she’s sharing a tragic replace concerning the most cancers spreading in her physique.
Supply: Paul Archuleta / Getty
PEOPLE experiences that in a latest dialogue with CNN’s Stephanie Elam and anchor Sara Sidner—who was additionally identified with stage III breast most cancers earlier this yr—Lewis opened up about her option to forgo surgical procedure after her preliminary analysis.
“I made a decision to maintain my tumor and attempt to work it out of my physique a unique manner,” stated Ananda noting that she selected to take away toxins from her physique. “Wanting again, I’m going, ‘Perhaps I ought to have [chosen a different path].’”
Lewis went on to say that she initially pursued homeopathic treatments, a brand new food regimen, a more healthy way of life, and medicine. Although she skilled some enchancment, her situation worsened in 2023, when she found her most cancers had unfold.
“My lymph system actually flared up,” she recounted, recalling her first encounter with the potential of demise. “I believed I had this, however I informed demise, ‘Not but. Whenever you do come, I’m gonna make it enjoyable for you.’”
Reflecting on her choice to say no a double mastectomy, Lewis emphasised the significance of sustaining her high quality of life. “I wish to wish to be right here, so I needed to do it my manner,” she defined.
As for Sidner, she selected to have a double mastectomy.
It’s unclear if Ananda is present process radiation now.
In an Instagram remark, she famous her pleasure about having the necessary dialog timed round Breast Most cancers Consciousness month.
Whew chile! The journey of die is REAL!ðððð»ð,” wrote the host on her finest buddy Stephanie Elam’s web page. “It was unimaginable to have this dialog with you @stephelamtv and @sarasidnertv ðð½ð Hoping for one of the best outcomes for EVERYONE pushing by life with cancerð Love you!
In 2023, Ananda was additionally a visitor on Amanda Seales’ “Small Doses” podcast the place she mentioned the holistic method she was taking to her therapeutic.
“What I do know is that my physique created this,” stated Ananda whereas reflecting on her 2019 analysis. “My physique did this and it did this for a wide range of causes, lots of which I can management, and what I consider to be true is, if I did one thing to create it, I may do one thing to uncreate it as properly.”
She added that she ought to have seemed into early detection contemplating her mom’s earlier breast most cancers analysis and detailed how her household reacted to information thats she declined conventional therapy.
“I believe the folks round me, who had been probably the most afraid had been those who actually didn’t perceive the trail I used to be taking,” stated Ananda on “Small Doses.” “So once more, worry of the unknown, after I began to clarify it and lay out what I used to be going to do, I believe folks have this concept that for those who say pure it simply means I’m gonna pop some dietary supplements and do some respiration and hope most cancers goes away.”
She added that whereas folks would possibly assume her pure remedied are ineffective, she was sticking by her selection.
“However as I went by this course of, the pure manner was what most aligned with my physique, I labored actually onerous at that,” stated Ananda. “I’m a really disciplined particular person.”
We’re sending honest properly needs Ananda Lewis’ manner.