Jessie J has opened up about the ‘discomfort’ she faced during a previous gig, amidst her ongoing health battle. The pop star, 37, recently discovered she has an early form of breast cancer and this week announced the diagnosis to fans on Instagram.
Now, Jessie has taken to social media once more, reflecting on a previous performance at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. The star said she’d undergone five breast biopsies before performing to the crowd, but ‘didn’t want to cancel’.
“I had five breast biopsies the night before this show,” she wrote yesterday. “I was in some discomfort but so hyped to do it and I didn’t want to cancel. The more I watch this show back I can see my brain working in complete overdrive trying not to blurt it all out.
“Laughing and making jokes in hard times [shaking hands emoji] me. And I am in fact under your bed.” Earlier this week Jessie said that while ‘cancer sucks in any form’, she is eager to remain positive and is holding on to the word ‘early’.
She is also due to undergo surgery following her performance at Capital Radio’s Summertime Ball, which is taking place on June 16. “It’s a very dramatic way to get a boob job,” she joked.
“…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.
“It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse – that’s the bit that kills me. I just want to just let you guys know it wasn’t something I’d planned, but yeah.”
Potential symptoms of breast cancer
The NHS advises everyone to routinely examine their breasts to recognise what is normal for them. Various atypical changes may indicate breast cancer, including:
- Changes in the size or shape of 1 or both breasts, or either side of your chest – it’s common for breasts to be different sizes, but check for any changes that are not normal for you
- Sores or ulcers on your chest
- Changes in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (it may look like orange peel) or redness, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin
- Changes in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (it may look like eczema)
- Nipple discharge (if you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
- Lumps or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
Women between the ages of 50 and 71 are regularly invited to NHS breast cancer screenings every three years. Many trans men, trans women, and non-binary people should also be periodically contacted for screenings. However, some might need to initiate contact with their GP first.
The NHS has further information on breast screenings here.
Macmillan Cancer Support also has a free helpline open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. They’re there to listen if you have anything you want to talk about—call: 0808 808 00 00.
