The post opens in the hospital. In one photo, Jessie J smiles from a hospital bed, wearing a black front-closure surgical bra, with purple surgical markings still visible on her chest. In another, she stands in a hospital bathroom in a gown and robe, with bands on both wrists, flashing a big thumbs-up in a mirror selfie.

RELATED: Beauty, Dignity, and Resilience: Helping Cancer Patients Embrace Confidence Through Treatment

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A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)

From there, the photos follow her back into everyday life. In a dressing room lined with sparkly outfits, she poses in a white front-closure bra and jeans, a moment she captioned “Me and this bra [handshake emoji].” In an elevator selfie, she gives another thumbs-up in a black tank top and baseball cap, alongside the line “[thumbs up] to healing (again).”

Tucked among the snapshots is a screenshot from the Calm meditation app, with a message that sums up her outlook: “You’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for.”

Alongside the photos, Jessie J shared a caption that reads like a scrapbook of her recovery, mixing jokes, sweet moments with her son and a closing mantra.

“[Thumbs-up emoji] to healing / My Dad can’t make the joke ‘She’d make a great flat mate’ anymore / Talk to me nice [fried egg emojis] / Hot / [people hugging emoji] / Me and this bra [handshake emoji] / [Thumbs-up emoji] to healing (again) / The best (and tallest 3 year old) [heart and battery emojis],” she wrote.

RELATED: Just Diagnosed With Breast Cancer? An Expert Shares First Steps and Questions for Your Doctor

Jessie J, who shares her son Sky with her former partner, retired basketball player Chanan Safir Colman, ended the caption with a tender moment with her son, saying, “He woke up in the middle of the night got in my bed and said ‘I love you my Mummy’ held my hand and fell asleep [teary face and heart emojis] / Boundaries, positivity and peace.”

WATCH: SurvivorNetTV Presents: ‘SN & You – Body Image: Embracing Your Body’

Fans flooded the comments with love, and many fellow breast cancer survivors saw themselves in her post.

One follower connected with the surgical bra in her photos, writing, “Had to wear it for eight weeks straight after my breast cancer operation. Felt weird without it and still keep it to remind me.. To take good care of myself… Health to everyone.”

Another survivor shared how her own son kept her going through treatment, writing, “I was diagnosed in 2021, had a mastectomy and had chemotherapy but I knew I had to fight this battle to live for my one son & here I am still living & appreciating life in 2026.

“The journey, the healing, the hope & the peace is an experience but you are an inspiration to us all.”

Others were simply glad to hear from her, commenting, “I literally just searched your name the other day to see if you posted any recent updates lately, so this was a delight to see!”

While another added, “Sending you so much love and healing prayers from Cali. We love you. Stay strong. And continue to be the warrior that we know you are.”

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A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)

We’d like to point out that Jessie J hasn’t specified the type of breast reconstruction surgery she underwent.

Breast reconstruction can be done with implants or with a patient’s own tissue (a flap procedure). Flap surgeries often create a more natural look and feel, but aren’t suitable for everyone. Implant reconstruction is more straightforward with a quicker recovery, though implants don’t change with the body over time and may eventually need replacement.

RELATED: Did You Know That Most Health Insurers Are Required To Pay For Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

Tissue expanders are temporary devices placed after a mastectomy to stretch the skin in preparation for permanent implants. They’re gradually filled with saline through a small external port every couple of weeks. This process can be uncomfortable for some women.

Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explains that expanders are placed either during the mastectomy or later during delayed reconstruction.

WATCH: Breaking Down Breast Reconstruction Options

Patients choosing implants must also decide between saline and silicone. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater and make leaks easy to detect. Silicone implants tend to look and feel more natural but require periodic MRI monitoring.

Timing also matters when it comes to breast reconstruction. Immediate reconstruction — done during the mastectomy — can offer better cosmetic results but involves a longer initial surgery and recovery.

“Delayed reconstruction has fewer complications than immediate reconstruction,” Dr. Terry Myckatyn, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, tells SurvivorNet.

Another emerging focus in reconstruction is restoring breast sensation. Surgeons are increasingly working to preserve sensory nerves during mastectomy and reconnect them during reconstruction — a technique called breast reinnervation.

Early results are promising and may help women regain meaningful sensation.

WATCH: Restoring Sensation After a Mastectomy

When discussing surgical options, oncologist Dr. Ann Partridge notes that decisions depend on tumor size, features, and personal history. Some women may be candidates for breast‑conserving surgery (lumpectomy), while others require mastectomy. After surgery, additional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy may be recommended.

Ultimately, reconstruction is a deeply personal decision.

“It’s a shared decision‑making process between the patient and the physician,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Myckatyn. “The patient needs to advocate for herself and make her goals clear.”

WATCH: How some women may keep their breast size and shape in cancer surgery.

Better Understanding Jessie’s Journey

Jessie’s diagnosis—early-stage breast cancer—typically involves a small tumor with no lymph node involvement. Her treatment included a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, a process many women face with varying options and outcomes.

Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, previously told SurvivorNet that “Most women do opt to have some reconstruction.”

When Jessie J opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis, she chose to speak directly to her fans, sharing her experience with striking honesty and vulnerability.

“Before ‘No Secrets’ came out, I was diagnosed with early breast cancer … Cancer sucks in any form, but I’m holding onto the word early. I have been in and out of tests throughout this whole period. I just wanted to be open and share it,” Jessie J said in an Instagram post.

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In a follow-up post, she admitted that even as she continued performing and creating, she hadn’t fully processed the emotional weight of her diagnosis.

“One, because, selfishly, I do not talk about it enough. I’m not processing it because I’m working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support, and also their own stories. I’m an open book.”

Her openness didn’t stop at her own story. Jessie J has also spoken with deep compassion about others facing the same fight, or harder ones, and the pain that so often goes unseen.

“It breaks my heart that other people are going through so much similar, and worse. That’s the bit that kills me,” she said.

Coping With Post-Surgery Scars, Body Image Amid Cancer

Many patients deal with some sort of change to their body and physical appearance, and coping with that change isn’t always easy. When you are in the middle of a health challenge, you may notice some physical changes in your body. The changes may include weight gain or loss, hair loss, or something invisible to the naked eye.

One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also frequently temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can also help you during this stage of your journey.

While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are treatments that can cause visible changes to one’s physical appearance, other treatments that are less noticeable include endocrine or hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy “slows or stops the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones,” according to the National Cancer Institute.

Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.

Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says that although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”

“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.

Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.

“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Strongin adds.

Breast Cancer Guidelines Recommend Surveillance Based On Recurrence Risk

Guidance from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), published earlier this year, provides updated recommendations for monitoring breast cancer patients after they complete initial (adjuvant) treatment.

IT was developed by an ASCO Expert Panel led by Dr. Zeina Nahleh, Chair of the Department of Hematology-Oncology and Director of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Maroone Cancer Center, and Dr. Maryam Lustberg, Director of the Center for Breast Cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.

It emphasizes a personalized approach to follow-up care, recommending that screening and monitoring schedules be tailored to each patient’s individual risk of recurrence rather than following a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Key Takeaways From the Updated Guidelines:

• Routine monitoring remains important. Medical history reviews, physical exams, and mammograms continue to be key components of follow-up care after treatment.
• Some visits can happen virtually. Telehealth may be used for certain follow-up appointments, allowing patients to meet with their care team remotely when appropriate.
• Higher-risk patients may need closer monitoring. People with residual cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, inflammatory breast cancer, certain inherited gene mutations (such as BRCA1/2), or those on specific combination therapies may benefit from more frequent follow-up visits, in some cases every 3 to 6 months for up to 10 years.
• Additional testing should be used selectively. The updated guidance provides recommendations on when blood-based tests and imaging beyond routine mammograms may be appropriate, rather than suggesting these tests for every breast cancer survivor.

Dr. Nahleh said in a statement, “The goal of [the] risk-stratified approach is to better address the heterogeneity of patients’ needs and account for these differences. It also emphasizes utilizing resources more effectively in light of the workforce shortage in oncology and rising health care costs.”

What This Means for Patients

Your breast cancer follow-up plan should reflect your individual risk and circumstances, rather than follow a standard checklist.

Patients at higher risk of recurrence may need more frequent or more detailed monitoring, while those at lower risk may not require as many follow-up visits.

Be sure to speak with your oncologist about your recurrence risk and ask how it affects the follow-up schedule they recommend.

It’s important to note that these guidelines may change as new evidence emerges, with tools such as circulating tumor DNA blood tests still being studied for their ability to predict recurrence but not yet recommended for routine monitoring.

Updated Guideline: Breast Cancer Follow-Up & Surveillance

New recommendations feature a risk-based approach to care, offering virtual or in-person visits, routine mammography, & tailored surveillance for high-risk patients.

Read the updated guideline: https://t.co/2Mhx2NK9qT pic.twitter.com/RbKa529iWR

— ASCO (@ASCO) August 26, 2026

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

Guidance on mammograms varies slightly by organization, which can cause confusion among patients, but we’re here to help.

In April 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its recommendation, advising all women at average risk to get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74 — a change from its 2016 guidance, which set the starting age at 50.

The USPSTF said moving the starting age to 40 could save roughly 19% more lives, and noted that Black women face a 40% higher breast cancer mortality risk than white women, a disparity the earlier guidelines didn’t address.

The American Cancer Society’s guidance is close but not identical: annual mammograms starting at 45, moving to every other year (or annual, if preferred) starting at 55.

Screening For Breast Cancer

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a BRCA mutation, chest radiation before age 30, early menstruation (before 12), or dense breast tissue are considered higher risk and may need to start screening earlier—however, that conversation should happen with a doctor rather than by following a general guideline.

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’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” is designed specifically for patients and caregivers.

WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care

This powerful resource is embedded across the SurvivorNet website and delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.

My Health Questions can also help patients come up with useful questions ahead of their next appointment.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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