“Back at it again this eve! Obsessed! Dance has always been my short cut back to inhabiting my body again… I can see from these vids how much I need yoga and Pilates and to get moving again,” Bastian, who previously competed on the British reality dance series, “Strictly Come Dancing,” captioned the post.

“When I was a kid, if things were hard at home, I would go down to the leisure center, ask to use a squash court [enclosed playing area with four vertical walls], take my ghetto blaster [battery-operated cassette player] (showing my age!) and dance and dance and dance.”

Bastian continued, “It was so healing for me. I’d make up dances and totally go with the flow… spinning, leaping, rolling on the floor… it was such an important way for me to process, express myself and release my emotions.

“Something about the ‘rebuild’ for me now is about reclaiming these parts of myself… so l, here I am, in the mess of it all…. And exhale.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ali Bastian (@alibastianinsta)

Earlier last month she shared another video clip of her testing out her new gold Capezio Roxy tap shoes, which she claims to have “splurged” on.

She wrote alongside the footate, “These weeks are tricky, two years since my breast canncer diagnosis, lots of consultants apts [appointments] and annual check ups… mammogram incoming next month on my other side, managing the stress as best I can… so far apts going well thankfully.

“Tap dancing has always made me happy and I love rediscovering it… also very good for bone health which is another massive bloody issue with hormone therapy.”

She then admitted she doesn’t think it’s “physiologically possible to tap dance and feel sad at the same time.”

“I actually dug out my tap shoes when I was in the darkest days of shock & grief after my mom died… which would have probably seemed bonkers to everyone around me, but some little echo from my childhood knew it was a short cut to grounding myself, if even momentarily, in the midst of it all,” Bastian continued.

“So here I go again… one mad, out of control drop shuffle pick up at a time!”

RELATED: Facing Breast Cancer Today, You Have Choices: Making Better-Informed Decisions After Active Treatment

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ali Bastian (@alibastianinsta)

Bastian’s Breast Cancer Journey

Bastian, a mother of two, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in June 2024 after initially noticing a lump while breastfeeding that she believed was a blocked milk duct. When the symptoms didn’t improve, she had it checked out—and it was confirmed to be cancer.

RELATED: A Young Mom Of Two Found A Lump While Breastfeeding And Thought It Was A ‘Blocked Milk Duct:’ It Was Cancer 

“It was a total shock,” said Bastian, which UK’s national public service broadcaster BBC previously reported from an OK! Magazine interview. She was prescribed antibiotics at first, but “it wasn’t clearing up and the more I felt it, the more I felt like this wasn’t just a blocked duct.”

Fortunately, she was taken seriously by her doctor when she raised her concerns and trusted her instincts.

She was ultimately declared cancer-free in March 2025 following a mastectomy [surgical removal of one breast], chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

According to The Independent, Bastian previously said on Instagram, “I had my mastectomy which was thankfully a success and has healed really well, it proved that my chemo(therapy) had worked. As I sit here right now, I’m free from cancer. I can’t even believe it.”

While sharing her “cancer-free” news, she posted photos of her shaved head on Instagram in March 2025, praising her fans for all their support and birthday wishes.

“I wanted to update you all. I’m on to my final week of radio therapy which should mark the end my active treatment – I hope and pray for good! I had my mastectomy in January which was thankfully a success and has healed really well, it proved that my chemo had worked. As I sit here right now, I’m free from Cancer. I can’t even believe it,” she wrote.

Bastian then expressed that recovery feels almost surreal after the shock of her diagnosis.

She continued, “The road back to my life won’t be a linear one… and I will share with you as always, as much of my truth of this experience as I can. I am so, so grateful for all of your support.

“People with cancer, experiencing cancer treatment need love. Full stop. Unconditional, arms around you love and support. I’ve really felt that from you all, also in my day to day life… from the most unexpected of places. When it’s dark, look for stars.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ali Bastian (@alibastianinsta)

How Turning to Music Can Help Cancer Patients

Creating, listening, and even performing music can be a powerful tool. Most people have felt the positive effects of a musical experience, but fewer people know there is actually science to back it up.

RELATED: Singer LeAnn Rimes Holds Remarkable Candlelight Concert – The Healing Power of Music

Dr. Alexander Pantelyat, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “Just listening to music activates more brain regions simultaneously than any other human activity.”

A study recently published in the journal Parkinson’s Disease researched the effects music had on the brain. It found music can help reduce anxiety for patients. Dr. Serap Bastepe-Gray, who co-founded  the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine with Dr. Pantelyat, led the study.

“The guitar, which is portable, affordable, and one of the most popular instruments in the U.S., has potential as a motivational therapeutic tool both in the clinical and community settings,” Dr. Bastepe-Gray said.

Music therapy is a resource cancer patients turn to during treatment. Music therapy includes “creating, singing, moving, listening and/or relaxing” to the sounds of your favorite songs according to the National Cancer Institute.

This form of therapy can help relieve depression, stress, anxiety, and pain.

Cancer Survivor Joel Naftelberg Learned to Dance on His Problems

Focusing on something you love is an important way to build resilience in the face of coping with cancer and chronic disease, psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman previously told SurvivorNet. She explained what she calls the “three wellsprings of vitality,” which are connecting with others, contributing to the lives of others, and challenging yourself to continue growing.

“Those are the cores of vitality, and the core pathways to enhance your everyday resilience,” Dr. Boardman said.

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.

Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.

Regular Self-Exams Are Helpful In Between Mammograms

A self-breast exam is an easy way to monitor your breasts for abnormalities. It involves feeling the breast for swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple.

Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor.

It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.

WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.

Navigating the Emotional Journey of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and it’s completely natural for emotions to fluctuate throughout the process. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains that emotional responses can shift from day to day, sometimes bringing unexpected waves of stress or uncertainty.

“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid,” Dr. Plutchik says. “You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support—whether that’s a therapist, friends, family, or both—to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions.”

If your emotional well-being begins to feel significantly impacted, seeking mental health support may be beneficial. Options for care include traditional talk therapy, medication, lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet modifications, joining a support group, or other personalized approaches.

Here are a few ways to help manage the emotional toll of a breast cancer diagnosis:

• Lean on loved ones. Open up to your family and close friends, allowing them to step in and offer support. Many cancer survivors express a strong need for assistance but struggle to ask for help—encourage those around you to offer practical aid, whether it’s meals, transportation, or simply a listening ear.
• Keep a journal. Writing down your thoughts and emotions can be a powerful way to process feelings. A journal provides a safe space to express yourself and reflect on your journey.
• Join a cancer support group. Local and online groups offer an opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar experiences. Learning from others and sharing your story can provide comfort and strength on difficult days.
• Consider therapy. Speaking with a mental health professional can help you navigate fears and concerns in a safe, supportive environment. Sometimes, vocalizing emotions rather than keeping them inside makes a meaningful difference in coping with stress.

While the path may feel uncertain, finding the right support system and coping strategies can make a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being. Breast cancer is a challenge, but you are not alone—and healing happens in many ways beyond the physical.

Mental Health When Faced With A Cancer Diagnosis

Maintaining a healthy mindset through a cancer diagnosis is important and not easy to do. Here are some resources for you that might be helpful.

• How to Fix Relationships When Depression Hits- A Survivors Guide
• SN & You: Mental Health And Coping With Emotions
• Responding to Stress: How to Cope With Complex & Changing Emotions
• Seeking Support: The First 3 Things to Do After a Cancer Diagnosis
• Do I Need to Share My Cancer Diagnosis in Social Situations?
• SurvivorNetTV Presents: ‘Walk With Me,’ Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch

Critical Questions. Trusted Answers. A New Wave of Cancer Patients Using SurvivorNet’s My Health AI Tools For Support

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---