Breast Cancer Survivor Rebecca-King Crews, 59, Wife of ‘America’s Got Talent’ Host, Terry Crews, Preparing to Launch a Podcast Cast to Share Their ‘Four C’s’ That’s Fueled Their 36 Year Marriage

“We were lying in bed one night and thought, we need the sequel. We get a lot of requests for speaking and counseling – and we’re not counselors – so we’re doing a podcast and we’re calling in “Staying Together,” Rebecca King-Crews shared with WJZY.

Their podcast, slated for release after Christmas, will offer wisdom on love, resilience, and the power of commitment. Those qualities were all put into motion when Rebecca’s breast cancer journey began at the most unexpected time.

“I had cancer in my right breast,” she said. “We were celebrating my son getting his first television booking, then the next morning, I got the phone call that my test was positive.”

WATCH: Actor Terry Crews and his wife, Rebecca, on addressing inequities in healthcare.

Stage 1 breast cancers are relatively small; they either have not spread to the lymph nodes or only a small area of cancer has spread to the sentinel lymph node. Treatment will likely be surgery, radiation following surgery, chemotherapy, or other therapy.

Rebecca’s early-stage breast cancer diagnosis emerged following a routine screening. Despite the shock, she leaned into her faith.

“I wasn’t in fear; I was just doing a check-up. But there was something in my heart that was telling me to get a check-up, so I didn’t go in expecting bad news. When I got the biopsy, I heard that small voice say, ‘Rebecca, if they find something, just cut it off.’”

That inner voice proved prophetic. In March 2020, she underwent a double mastectomy to remove the stage 1 tumor, followed by breast reconstruction.

Crews underwent a double mastectomy procedure that involved removing both breasts to get rid of cancer. The procedure may also be a preventative measure for women at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removal of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, told SurvivorNet.

Today, she celebrates five years cancer-free—a milestone she attributes to early detection.

“I believe my outcome was wonderful because of early detection. It’s easier to save you if they get it early.”

Throughout her journey, Rebecca’s anchor was her husband, actor Terry Crews. Their marriage began when they were young and tested by time.

The couple weathered early heartbreak, including a miscarriage, and later faced one of their most difficult trials: Rebecca’s breast cancer diagnosis. Terry stepped into full support mode, taking on parenting duties and household responsibilities so Rebecca could focus on healing.

“So many people think it’s impossible today to make marriage work, but for us, it’s paramount,” she shares. “There’s no one in the world I’d rather do life with. He’s my best friend, or if he doesn’t say something right, there’s still no one I’d rather run home and talk to other than Terry.”

Rebecca credits their enduring love to what she calls the “four C’s”: commitment, compassion, courage, and communication.

“It takes courage to communicate,” she explains. “Many people don’t say what they feel and don’t hash it out, and you have to have compassion for the other person.”

“When I got my diagnosis, I told him, ‘Hey, I need you to be strong, dude,’ because he was melting like a stick of butter,” she laughs. “I’m just as amazed as the rest of the world because we got married really young. I’m so thankful for my family and my heart.”

Rebecca’s journey through marriage, parenthood, and cancer reminds us that healing is not just physical, but it is also emotional and sometimes spiritual. A key to making it through tough times is having an army of loved ones supporting you throughout the ups and downs.

The Power of Positivity and Faith

Since beating cancer, her faith in herself and God has been strengthened. Rebecca said during one of her weekly prayer sessions that sometimes adversity is what we need to grow.

“Sometimes dark and difficult times are exactly what we need to help us grow and become stronger. They challenge us to dig deep within ourselves and find the strength to keep going, even when we feel like giving up,” she said in an Instagram post.

WATCH: A Sacred and Blessed Calling

Why Faith Offers Cancer Patients Hope

A study published in “Cancer” includes data that found “69% of cancer patients reported praying for their health” compared to “only 45% of the general U.S. population.”

Cancer psychologist Dr. Andrew Kneier helped co-author “Coping with Cancer: Ten Steps toward Emotional Well-Being.” He also co-authored a column published by Stanford Medicine with Rabbi Jeffery M. Silberman, director of spiritual care at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut.

The two add more context to the impact faith has on cancer patients.

“A person’s faith or spirituality provides a means for coping with illness and reaching a deeper kind of inner healing,” Kneier and Silberman said.

“Coping means different things to different people: it can involve finding answers to the questions that illness raises, it can mean seeking comfort for the fears and pain that illness brings, and it can mean learning how to find a sense of direction at a time of illness. Religious teachings can help a person cope in all of these dimensions,” Kneier and Silberman continued.

WATCH: Three-time cancer survivor shares how her faith helped her during cancer.

New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans tells SurvivorNet about the importance of finding ways to cope with the complex web of feelings you may be experiencing after a challenging health diagnosis, such as cancer.

“It’s important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you’ve never prayed before, you don’t know what to say, a heartfelt plea, ‘God, help me, be with me,’” Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet.

“You can reach out to God, and you can reach out to people, your friends and family, and say, ‘I can’t do this on my own. I need you.’ “It’s in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can find something deeper that we never would’ve encountered without this hardship,” Evans continued.

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.

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

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.

WATCH: How to perform a self-exam.

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.

RELATED: When Should I Get a Mammogram?

False Positives & the Dreaded ‘Callback’

If you went in for your mammogram and received a call from the doctor’s office to say more images, including MRI or ultrasound, may be required if the initial pictures aren’t clear, while worrisome, this scenario could mean a number of things. For instance, dense breasts, which we discuss elsewhere in this section, can make it hard to distinguish between fatty tissue and a tumor.

Here is how the numbers on screenings break down, according to Dr. Lehman: Of the approximately 10 percent of women who get called back, the vast majority will be absolutely fine after more imaging. Only 20 percent of those will need a biopsy, and in the end, just five percent of that group will be found to have cancer.

Here are some tips to help ensure you get the most accurate test possible:

• Go to a large and experienced center that has a good record and reputation.
• Don’t wear deodorant on the day of your mammography. It can contribute to inaccuracies.
• Keep in mind that certain factors, like dense breasts, tattoos, and breast implants, may also result in errors.

Learning More About Genetic Testing

Genetic testing for cancer is typically conducted in a medical setting, such as a primary care office or an OB-GYN clinic. However, some tests are now available for direct purchase, allowing individuals to explore their genetic risk independently.

Initially, genetic testing was recommended for a limited group of individuals based on specific risk factors, including a strong family history of breast cancer, personal cancer history, or certain ethnic backgrounds.

WATCH: Helping you understand genetic testing.

“It started out with a very narrow field of women and men who were recommended to have it based on certain risk factors, family history of breast cancer, or other cancers, and also ethnic backgrounds,” explains Dr. Port.

Guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) suggest that genetic testing should be prioritized for patients at higher risk for hereditary breast cancer. This includes individuals diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45, those with a strong familial history of the disease, and individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Meanwhile, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) takes a broader approach, recommending genetic testing for all patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

These evolving recommendations reflect a growing emphasis on personalized medicine, ensuring that individuals at risk receive appropriate screening and guidance to manage their health proactively.

What If You Have the BRCA Gene Mutation?

Discovering a genetic mutation can be unsettling, but there are several options available to manage cancer risk effectively. These include enhanced screenings for early detection, prophylactic (risk-reducing) surgery to remove high-risk tissue, and chemoprevention—the use of medications designed to lower the chances of developing cancer.

Interestingly, for individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer, carrying a BRCA mutation may provide a treatment advantage when paired with a class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors. Approved by the FDA starting in 2014, these targeted therapies have transformed the landscape of ovarian cancer treatment.

WATCH: Understanding the BRCA Gene Mutation

PARP inhibitors function by blocking the protein PARP, which normally repairs damaged DNA. By preventing this repair process, the inhibitors selectively destroy cancerous cells while sparing healthy ones, making them a powerful treatment tool.

“The PARP inhibitor prevents the repair of the [damaged] single-strand DNA break, and your BRCA mutation prevents the repair of the double-strand DNA break,” explains Dr. Rebecca Arend, Associate Scientist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, in an interview with SurvivorNet.

This combination of genetic insight and advanced medical therapies highlights how precision medicine continues to evolve, offering more effective, tailored approaches to cancer prevention and treatment.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or have recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet suggests the following questions to kickstart your conversation with your doctor.

• Do I have dense breasts?
• Do I need to undergo additional or more sensitive screening?
• How is my risk level being assessed?
• Will insurance cover additional screening if needed?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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