‘Price Tag’ Singer-Songwriter Jessie J, 37, Admits ‘It’s Been Nice To Slow Down’ While Recovering From a Mastectomy, But Misses Being An ‘Active Mom’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)

She continued, as per screenshots taken of her temporary social media posts, “It’s still uncomfortable / a little painful but l can handle that. I’m doing my exercises and taking all the healthy things.

“I have been trying to eat super clean.”

The 37-year-old mom of one, known for her hit songs “Bang Bang” and “Domino,” also informed her fans that she is no longer taking pain medication because it’s “just not my thing.”

Jessie J added, “I have now done a [poo emoji]. Still have my drain. Anyone else who has had this, did you feel like you are walking around one of those dog / duck toys.

“I carry mine on the floor when l’m home so the gravity can help the drain. Hoping it’s out by the end of the week. I am feeling positive and grateful.”

Offering more insight into her recovery journey, Jessie J also noted in her story that if she seems “a little out of it,” she is, but she insisted it’s “not personal.”

She concluded, “It’s not personal. I don’t have what I usually have to give energy-wise, understandably. I will get there. It’s a slow road.

“For now, I am taking it easy. Enjoying the slow vibes and staying positive.”

In an effort to stay positive, Jessie J’s most recent Instagram post features her practicing before a show and making jokes, which she captioned, “My breasts are definitely not singing TODAY! Happy hump day. Remember to laugh! ”

Jessie J’s health update comes just days after she announced she is still not in the clear from cancer as the results from her surgery have yet to be revealed.

“A weird situation. My fault for not being clearer. But for now I do not have my results after surgery which was only 6 nights ago. I pray it will be true soon but the journey of cancer isn’t that simple unfortunately,” she said last week.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)

Jessie J announced her cancer diagnosis in a short video clip shared on Instagram last month, admitting she has “no (more) secrets,” referencing the title of one of her new songs.

She captioned the post, “Is it too soon to do a remix called ‘Living my breast life.’ All jokes aside (You know it’s one of the ways I get through hard times).

“This last 2 months have been so amazing, and having this go on along side it on the sideline’s has given me the most incredible perspective. BUT… Your girl needs a hug. Also not getting massive tits. Or am I? No no… I must stop joking.”

She shared in the footage,“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.

“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.”

Although the beloved singer has shared that she’s recovering from a mastectomy, she hasn’t offered information on the exact stage of her cancer or what type of treatment she would be undergoing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)

Making Decisions: Breast Cancer Surgery

Deciding to get a mastectomy, like Jessie J underwent, is a considerable step you and your care team must carefully go over.

A mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast during surgery. There are several factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy, such as if breast-conserving surgery (or lumpectomy) is possible. Your doctor will evaluate the size and features of your tumor and your family history to make a recommendation.

In some cases, a double mastectomy is a viable treatment option. During this procedure, both breasts are removed to get rid of cancer. A double mastectomy may also be performed as a preventative measure for women who are at a very high risk of developing breast cancer.

WATCH: When to consider a mastectomy?

How to Choose the Right Surgeon?

Surgical procedures such as a mastectomy, or a double mastectomy, can be an emotional part of a woman’s breast cancer journey. Choosing the right surgeon is extremely important for such a heavy part of the process.

SurvivorNet doctors say women should trust their gut when choosing a surgeon.

“You shouldn’t just ask surgeons how many operations they’ve performed because volume is not necessarily the best indicator of the right surgeon for you. On the other hand, you don’t want a surgeon who is inexperienced,” urologic oncologist Dr. Jay Shah said.

Above all, Dr. Shah says people faced with a choice of surgeons should go with someone they feel they can trust.

WATCH: What to consider before a mastectomy. 

Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment

For anyone battling breast cancer, it’s important to understand that your doctor has many ways to treat breast cancer, including:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy

“It’s important to understand why your doctor is recommending a particular type of treatment,” Dr. Jessica Tao, a breast medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.

Breast Cancer: Introduction to Prevention & Screening

Surgery

Most women with breast cancer will have surgery at some point in their treatment. Depending on how far your cancer has spread and your personal preferences, you and your doctor may decide to:

• Remove just the cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it (lumpectomy)
• Remove one breast (mastectomy)
• Remove both breasts (double mastectomy)

Removing your breasts can have a dramatic effect on your self-esteem, which is why some women who opt for a mastectomy then choose breast reconstruction surgery. This is a highly personal choice, and there is no “right” answer as to whether or not to reconstruct.

According to the American Cancer Society, bleeding and infection at the surgery site are possible with all operations. However, the side effects of a mastectomy can depend on the type: either a single (removing one breast) or double (removing both breasts).

Those side effects can include:

• Pain or tenderness at the surgery site
• Swelling at the surgery site
• Buildup of blood in the wound (hematoma)
• Buildup of clear fluid in the wound (seroma)
• Limited arm or shoulder movement
• Numbness in the chest or upper arm
• Neuropathic (nerve) pain (sometimes described as burning or shooting pain) in the chest wall, armpit and/or arm that doesn’t go away over time. It is also called post-mastectomy pain syndrome, or PMPS.
• If axillary lymph nodes are also removed, other side effects such as lymphedema may occur.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer all over the body. You may get this treatment to shrink a tumor before surgery, afterward to get rid of any remaining cancer cells, or on its own if you can’t have surgery.

Whether or not to have chemotherapy can also be a choice, depending on a woman’s age, type of cancer, and stage.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells and is typically used after surgery to lower the chance that the cancer will come back after treatment. Many women undergo radiation as part of their treatment, especially if they opt for a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy.

Hormone Therapy

The hormones estrogen and progesterone help some breast cancers grow. Doctors refer to these types of cancers as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Receptors are proteins on the surface of breast cells that receive messages from estrogen, progesterone, or both, telling them to grow. Treatments that block these hormones may help stop the tumor.

Testing the tumor sample from a biopsy helps to determine whether hormone therapies such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex) or anastrozole (Arimidex) might work against the cancer. Women with breast cancer that is fueled by estrogen may take one of these drugs as part of their treatment.

Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy

Immunotherapy and targeted therapies are newer forms of treatment. Immunotherapy boosts your body’s own immune response to help it stop the cancer.

As their name suggests, targeted therapies target certain substances that help the cancer grow. For example, drugs like trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) treat breast cancers that have too much of a protein called HER2 on their surface.

Coping With Your New Body After Cancer Treatment

“Changes to your body may be temporary or permanent. They include changes that others can see, such as hair loss or weight gain,” MacMillan Cancer Support says, noting physical changes.

“Changes that are not obviously visible to others, such as infertility, can also affect your body image and make you feel vulnerable about your body,” MacMillian Cancer Support added.

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

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 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 first to 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,” Dr. Strongin added.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you’re facing the option of having a mastectomy, here are some questions to consider asking your doctor:

• What can I do to prepare for a double mastectomy?
• What happens before and after the procedure?
• For reconstruction, what are the benefits of using implants over my own tissue and vice versa?
• What should I know about implants? Should I opt for preventative surgery?
• What will recovery look like after the procedure?
• What are the benefits of a watch & wait approach vs. preventative surgery?
• What kind of surveillance is required after the surgery?

Prioritizing Your Mental Health During & After Cancer

If you’re facing cancer, it’s essential that you reach out for help if you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Many people diagnosed with cancer understandably find themselves mentally overwhelmed and scared. Some may even experience the five stages of grief.

Treating Depression After a Cancer Diagnosis

“The feelings that come up after a breast cancer diagnosis can sometimes mimic the five stages of grief,” Dr. Marianna Strongin, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy Psychology, told SurvivorNet. (Dr. Strongin is also a SurvivorNet contributor.) “Patients may experience, in any order, denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, depression and, finally, acceptance.”

But, she added, “as patients move through these stages, it’s especially important to offer them support and a safe space to experience these stages fully so that they don’t just sit in one stage such as depression.”

RELATED: One-Third of Breast Cancer Patients Experience Temporary or Lasting Depression Symptoms During & After Treatment, Research Suggests; Here’s How To Cope After A Diagnosis

If you’re having feelings of depression or you’re overwhelmed after your cancer diagnosis, get connected with a mental health professional as soon as possible. There’s support available to you, and the better you feel mentally, the more ready you will be for treatment.

“Psychoeducation about the typical emotions and stages is extremely helpful for patients as it can help them feel less alone and also give them an understanding that all emotions are temporary and manageable with proper treatment,” Dr. Strongin said.

“Ultimately, this can improve their mental health symptoms which has been shown to  have a positive impact on the outcome of breast cancer treatment.”

Mental health issues like clinical depression can negatively impact cancer treatment. This makes it all the more vital to seek immediate support or to ask your loved ones to help you get support if you’re too overwhelmed to do it on your own.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.