Cancer Screenings Aid Early Detection
- “Breakfast Club” host Charlamagne tha God calls former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis’s cancer journey sad after her years-long metastatic breast cancer battle. He urged his listeners to seek credible medical information and stay on top of their health screenings.
- Former MTV host Ananda Lewis waged a six-year-long breast cancer journey that progressed to stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer.
- Before her diagnosis, she had never had a mammogram before her 2019 diagnosis, fearing radiation exposure. According to the American Cancer Society, annual mammograms for women at average risk are encouraged to begin at age 40.
- Lewis initially chose to bypass traditional cancer treatment regimens such as a mastectomy (removal of the breast) as her doctor recommended. She decided to “keep her tumor” and focus on diet and lifestyle changes instead. She later admitted she regretted that decision, questioning if she “should have” gotten the surgery.
- Traditional cancer treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation regimens. However, they often come with harsh side effects. Non-traditional (complementary) treatments may include herbal supplements, homeopathic drugs, or a changed diet and lifestyle.
Charlamagne, 46, (aka Lenard McKelvey) and his co-hosts reflected on Lewis’ groundbreaking contributions as one of the few Black women to host on-air during MTV’s early years. While honoring her accomplishments, they also addressed the dangers of misinformation surrounding cancer treatment, emphasizing the importance of early detection and regular screenings.
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He further urged listeners to take their health seriously, dismissing unreliable medical advice found online: “Some of these things are preventable, and I don’t care if they call you a hypochondriac and tell you that you’re bugging – just take your butt to the doctor, and don’t listen to TikTok.”
Co-host DJ Envy echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of routine check-ups.
“We always say, go to the doctor, get checked out. You’d rather know what’s going on and be able to figure it out before it’s too late,” Envy said.
Following Lewis’ passing, an outpouring of support flooded social media, with condolences sent to her family. Among those paying tribute were longtime friends and fellow breast cancer warriors Sara Sidner and Stephanie Elam of CNN, who reflected on Lewis’ unique treatment choices.
“I took the traditional route of a double mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. Ananda decided against the double mastectomy and decided to take a different treatment route,” Sidner explained in an emotional CNN segment.
Despite choosing a non-traditional path, Lewis was resolute in her decision. “One thing that I want everyone to know is that she was at peace with this decision,” Elam stated.
Lewis’ legacy remains not only in her trailblazing career but also in the conversations she sparked about breast cancer awareness, personal treatment choices, and the critical importance of screenings and early intervention.
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Expert Resources for Breast Cancer Screening
- 6 Common Excuses for Skipping a Mammogram That You Need to Stop Using!
- Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer — A Warning About Thermography
- Free Mammograms And Increased Access To Cancer Screenings Focus Of New Bills Promoting Early Detection
- How to Avoid False Positive Cancer Results in Women With Dense Breasts: Ultrasounds Used in Addition To Mammograms
- I Have Dense Breasts. Do I Need a 3D Mammogram?
Standard Treatment and Non-traditional Treatment Approaches
Traditional treatment methods for cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation regimens. Understandably, these treatments are not easy to deal with as they often bring grueling side effects from hair loss to diarrhea. Some patients opt for non-traditional treatments to avoid these side effects, while others bypass traditional therapy for other reasons. Examples of non-traditional treatments may include relying on herbal supplements, homeopathic drugs, or a changed diet and lifestyle.
A study published in the medical journal JAMA Oncology focused on complementary medicine, refusal of conventional cancer therapy, and patient survival. The researchers surmised that patients are more likely to die when they rely on non-traditional cancer treatments.
WATCH: Complementary Treatment
“We know that many, many patients out there are using complementary and alternative medicine, but they’re not talking with their providers about it,” says Dr. James Yu, a radiation oncologist at Yale Cancer Center who led the study.
Yu and his colleagues examined information collected from 1.9 billion people in the National Cancer Database. They found that people who chose complementary medicine for cancer treatment were more likely to be female, younger, affluent, well-educated, and privately insured.
People who chose complementary medicine were also more likely to refuse some conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy, Yu says. Unfortunately, these people had a two-fold greater risk of death compared with patients who did not use complementary medicine.
Yu stresses that using complementary therapies to improve patient’s quality of life should be okay as long as they do not interfere with conventional medicines and help them feel better.
Ananda’s Cancer Journey
Ananda Lewis discovered she had stage breast cancer in January 2019 after performing a self-exam and found a lump. A biopsy later confirmed her diagnosis and revealed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.
Lewis says her mom religiously received an annual mammogram. However, the former TV star had never had a mammogram before she was diagnosed with cancer.
WATCH: Mammograms
The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives. For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Instead of the standard of care route, which often includes surgery such as a mastectomy (the removal of the breast) possibly followed by chemotherapy, Lewis decided against surgery and instead chose to eliminate toxins, change her diet, and other non-traditional approaches to address her cancer. Sadly, the cancer metastasized or spread to different parts of the body, making it stage 4.
Lewis’ cancer journey has sparked conversations among some oncologists who promote traditional lines of care for breast cancer, which often include a form of surgery followed by possible chemotherapy or radiation, or a combination of treatment methods.
Treatment Options for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage 4) means cancer cells have spread from the breast to other parts of the body, which may include the bones, liver, lungs, brain, and beyond.
Breast cancer spreads through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The blood carries cancer cells to different body parts, where they grow as new tumors.
As the cancer spreads to other body parts, patients may experience additional symptoms depending on where the cancer has spread. Examples include:
- Bones: Severe bone pain or fractures
- Lungs: Difficulty breathing, chest pain, new cough
- Liver: Yellowing of the skin (jaundice), abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting
- Brain: Headaches, memory loss, changes in vision, seizures
WATCH: Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer.
Although stage 4 breast cancer is not curable, several treatment options exist that can extend the life of patients. Treatment options depend on the stage, type of primary breast cancer, and whether hormone receptors are positive.
Treatment can include a combination of:
- Chemotherapy: Oral or IV medications that are toxic to tumor cells
- Hormonal therapies: Drugs that lower estrogen levels or block estrogen receptors from allowing the cancer cells to grow
- Targeted therapies: Drugs that target your tumor’s specific gene mutations
- Immunotherapy: Medications that stimulate your immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
- Radiation: The use of high-energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors
- Surgery: To remove a cancerous tumor or lymph nodes (uncommon with stage IV; more common in stages I, II, and III)
- Clinical trials: Studies of new medications, treatments, and other therapies offer hope for better outcomes.
Questions for Your Doctor
If your breast cancer journey involves metastasis, you may be wondering what to expect and if radiation therapy is an option for you. Here are some questions you can ask your doctor to get the conversation started:
- What type of breast cancer do I have? Does it have a risk of spreading?
- Does my breast cancer have a risk of spreading to my brain?
- Will radiation help treat the cancer in my brain? What type of radiotherapy do you recommend?
- How long does radiation treatment typically last? Will I have to take time away from work and daily activities?
- Would I be on any other forms of treatment while receiving radiation?
- How do you expect my cancer to respond to the treatment?
- What financial resources are available to me to help cover costs associated with radiation treatment?
- What’s the efficacy of radiation treatment?
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