Sheryl Crow, 59, Says ‘Surviving Breast Cancer Redefined Who And How I Am,’ Now She Puts Herself First

In an interview with The Guardian, Crow talks about politics, being an excellent baton twirler, winning a best legs contest and her new album, but it’s her thoughtful, touching take on cancer that stands out in the interview.

“Surviving breast cancer redefined who and how I am, although I'm not sure I'd recommend it,” she says. “Until then, I'd spent a lifetime being a caretaker for everyone around me. From then, I started to put myself first. I had voices at the back of my head telling me whatever I did wasn't good enough. Now, finally, I've silenced them.”

Crow’s Breast Cancer Battle

Crow was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer at age 44 after a routine mammogram she almost skipped. In an interview recently with FOX61 Morning News, the singer says the mammogram was scheduled for a busy time in her life, right around the Grammys, but she went ahead with the screening.

She later received a diagnosis of breast cancer. “It never occurred to me that the mammogram would find anything because I have no family history and I had no signs of it, no lumps or anything like that,” Crow told People magazine last year. “And I was extremely, and still am, very healthy, very athletic and fit. I just didn’t think I would be a candidate at all.”

Related: Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams

After a lumpectomy and radiation, Crow's cancer went into remission. She's now a staunch advocate for urging women to resume mammogram screenings, which may have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crow's lumpectomy, a minimally invasive surgery, was followed by 33 radiation treatments over 7 weeks. Thanks to Crow's proactive nature when it comes to her health, the superstar singer was able to take quick and decisive action around treatment.

Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer

Getting a Mammogram to Screen for Breast Cancer

Mammograms screen for breast cancer and women aged 45 to 54 should have mammograms annually. Women with a history of breast cancer in the family should begin screening for this disease before the age of 45.

Related: When You're Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts

Dr. Connie Lehman, the chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasizes in an earlier interview how mammograms save lives. She says, “If you haven’t gone through menopause yet, I think it’s very important that you have a mammogram every year. We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving.”

“After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years,” says Dr. Lehman. “But what I’m most concerned about is the women who haven’t been in for a mammogram for two, three, or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives.”

When Should I Get a Mammogram?

Contributing: Anne McCarthy

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