The 80s Pop Star's Private Cancer Battle
- 80s Latin hip-hop singer Lisa Lisa (Lisa Velez) explained it was difficult waging a private battle with breast cancer while still managing to tour and perform after her diagnosis.
- Velez was diagnosed with stage zero (ductal carcinoma in situ) DCIS when she was 21. SurvivorNet experts consider this type of cancer “pre-cancer.”
- DCIS are abnormal cells that line the ducts in a breast. A normal breast comprises many ducts that carry milk to the nipple in a lactating woman.
- DCIS can turn into invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer is the kind of breast cancer that has the potential to not only grow in your breast but to spread to other places in the body if left untreated.
- Since the risk exists for more aggressive cancer to emerge, women are encouraged to explore treatment options to remove stage zero cancer to prevent future breast cancer.
- Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between are valid.
Singer Lisa Lisa was one of the most popular Latin hip-hop stars during the ‘80s, yet amid her success, few knew she waged a private battle with breast cancer. Lisa Velez (Lisa Lisa) explains juggling cancer treatment, including chemotherapy while maintaining a hectic touring schedule was “difficult.”
Velez, now 57, was a key member of the iconic “Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam” music group. Her talent and hard work led to the creation of hits like “Can You Feel the Beat?” “Lost in Emotion?” and “I Wonder If I Take You Home” remain Velez’s most celebrated musical achievements.
Read More“It was hard to talk about back then,” Velez told talk show host Tamron Hall.
Velez was diagnosed with stage zero ductal carcinoma in situ in the late 1980s when she was 21. She discovered “bruises” while looking over her body.
“I was like, ‘Wow, what are these bruises?’ And I said I have to get checked,” Velez said.
She took a detour while on tour to see an oncologist who performed tests leading to her diagnosis.
“It was hard; there was no one to speak on it. The guys used to ask me, ‘Are you gaining weight? Are you pregnant?’ I was like, ‘No, I’m going through chemo.” Velez explained.
“I had to hide it,” Velez said.
View this post on Instagram
She added she didn’t tell anyone about her breast cancer diagnosis, not even her mom.
Velez cited financial obligations as why she decided to push through cancer treatment and continue performing simultaneously.
“It was really hard…My doctor was like, ‘You should not be on tour,’ and I said, ‘I have to work because I have bills to pay,” Velez explained.
The pop star is still performing 40 years after Velez’s signature hit “I Wonder If I Take You Home” was released.
Helping Patients Cope with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Why Some Patients Choose to Fight Alone, and When to Talk About Your Diagnosis
Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves or close loved ones. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between, are valid.
WATCH: Sharing a Diagnosis
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains.
Questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?” are things Plutchik says patients take into consideration.
Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.
Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
Understanding Lisa’s Diagnosis
Stage zero breast cancer refers to DCIS or Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. DCIS are abnormal cells that line the duct in a breast. A normal breast comprises many ducts carrying milk to the nipple in a lactating woman.
WATCH: Understanding stage zero breast cancer.
SurvivorNet experts say some women with DCIS will go on, if left untreated, to have breast cancer. Since the risk exists, women are encouraged to explore treatment options to remove the cancer to prevent future breast cancer.
“It’s a pre-cancer, technically,” Dr. Ann Partridge is an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the founder and Director of the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer tells SurvivorNet.
“It’s something that may turn into invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer is the kind of breast cancer that has the potential to not only grow in your breast but to spread to other places in the body and ultimately hurt someone more than just needing a breast surgery,” Dr. Partridge adds.
The current standard of care is treatment with either lumpectomy or mastectomy, radiation, and hormonal therapy.
Dr. Chirag Shah, Director of Breast Radiation Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, says recent studies show that the risk of dying from stage zero breast cancer is very low, prompting some doctors to opt for less aggressive treatment and, even in some cases, active surveillance.
“Protocols, such as the comet trial, are studying the use of surveillance regimens, but this is not standard of care and is experimental at this time, and active surveillance is not something that we would recommend for patients outside of a clinical study,” Dr. Shah said.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
