Why Ananda Lewis chose not to have a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer

Broadcast journalist Ananda Lewis lost her life to cancer at the age of 52. The news comes four years after she revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her sister, Lakshmi Lewis, took to Facebook and wrote:

“She’s free, and in His Heavenly arms.”

In January 2025, Essence published a piece by Ananda Lewis, in which she highlighted the course of treatments. She wrote:

“My goal was to do things that supported my body’s ability to continue to be whole enough to heal, instead of destroying it up front. I also couldn’t figure out how to fit the double mastectomy, the full chemotherapy and, potentially, the radiation they were telling me to have into my already overwhelmed life.”

She mentioned these methods did not feel right for her. In October 2024, Ananda Lewis got together with CNN’s Stephanie Elam for a conversation, where she and CNN reporter Sara Sidner discussed their cancer journeys.

During the conversation, it was mentioned that Ananda’s cancer progressed to an advanced stage, and a double mastectomy was an option for her. However, she did not proceed with that course of treatment and opted for alternative therapies.

When Elam asked if she was in favour of anti-mastectomy and anti-surgery since the beginning of her cancer journey, Ananda Lewis said:

“I don't want to use the word anti because I'm not against it. I see the necessity of it. I see the effectiveness of it. I know people who work for my mother being one of them.”

Ananda Lewis worked on her diet and emotional well-being

During the CNN interview, Ananda Lewis shared that her health journey was deeply personal, and she chose a path that felt right for her. Initially, she focused on detoxifying her body because she believed in its natural ability to heal.

She trusted that the body was designed with intelligence and that people often unknowingly interfere with its balance. Instead of going through major medical procedures, which she wasn't prepared for, she decided to keep her tumor and try to heal naturally.

She changed her diet, worked on her emotional well-being, and took steps to slow down her life. Ananda Lewis felt that this approach was effective for her. She said:

“I began to look at the healing like the full picture of it. In the beginning, I had this little sliver and then pieces started healing. So that's what all of this has to be a part of. All of it has to be part.”

She went on:

“Everything was falling apart, but I was learning in the process and as being still a part of sketching the things I could use, the ground, the way the things I could. And then I got down to this kind of more manageable table full of things I could do, you know, like action.”

The MTV broadcaster’s career began with BET in 1995. At that time, she used to host the show Teen Summit. Two years later, Ananda Lewis joined MTV and worked on two of its popular shows, Total Request Live and Hot Zone.

She exited the cable network in 2001 and launched her talk show. She later joined Entertainment Tonight.

Also Read: Who is Anna Grace Phelan? TikToker dies at 19

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