Jessie J says she has just had 'worst day' since cancer diagnosis
The pop star, 37, stressed the importance of speaking out about her emotions after being diagnosed with early-stage cancer
Jessie J has opened up about the tears and panic attacks she's experienced amid her ongoing health battle. While the pop star is determined to remain positive, she said yesterday was by far the 'worst day' she's faced since being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
Posting to her Instagram Story last night, Jessie said: "Honesty. Had my worst day so far yesterday since my diagnosis and the busiest three months I have had in years. Work. Toddler. Cancer. Life etc had my mind.
"Panic attacks/tears/big fears/anger/overwhelm. Bad. And you know what helped?" In a subsequent post, she continued: "I ate a corn on the cob. Turns out it's extremely hard to panic or cry while eating one. Highly recommend."
Despite the tough day, Jessie stressed the importance of speaking out about emotions and being authentic amidst personal challenges. In doing so, she believes you may learn to better cope with the problem and heal over time.
This morning, she continued: "It's key to acknowledge fear, anger, sadness, panic, overwhelm and let it come up and come out. Holding it in won't make it go away. In any challenging situation in life.
"So, when I posted what I did yesterday about my current challenge in life, also while making light of the situation. That was one day in 10 weeks that I just lost it and was completely drowned in all the negative and bad feelings any cancer journey can bring.
READ MORE: Ex-Loose Women's Saira Khan credits 'glowing skin' to one affordable food
"Which is healthy and needed. [In my opinion]. I say this because I have had a lot of people since I posted that say to me things like, 'Don't think about the negative' and 'To beat this you have to stay strong', 'Good thoughts only' - and don't get me wrong, I know all are meant with well intention and love.
"But it's sparked me thinking about how interesting it is in what we individually see as being strong is. I have always advocated for being real. Honest in your feelings. We cannot heal what we don't acknowledge etc.
"Just don't unpack your suitcase and live in it. Or let it define you... So I will cry. I will be scared. I will panic. I will feel all of it for a minute or even a full day. And then eat a corn or listen to a song that lifts me up.
"Or laugh with a friend on [FaceTime]. And then go and be Mum, and go to work and show up and be what I feel 90% of the time. Strong, fearless, healthy, and make some jokes about it all because that's my way. But I will not ignore the 10% that is fear and the sadness."
In a separate post last week, Jessie also emphasised that while 'cancer sucks in any form', she is eager to remain hopeful and is holding on to the word 'early'. The 37-year-old is due to undergo surgery following her performance at Capital Radio's Summertime Ball, which is taking place on June 16.
"It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse - that's the bit that kills me," she said last week. "I just want to just let you guys know it wasn't something I'd planned, but yeah."
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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Jessie J says she has just had 'worst day' since cancer diagnosis
The pop star, 37, stressed the importance of speaking out about her emotions after being diagnosed with early-stage cancer Jessie J has opened up about the tears and panic attacks she's experienced amid her ongoing health battle. While the pop star is determined to remain positive, she said yesterday was by far the 'worst day' she's faced since being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Posting to her Instagram Story last night, Jessie said: "Honesty. Had my worst day so far yesterday since my diagnosis and the busiest three months I have had in years. Work. Toddler. Cancer. Life etc had my mind. "Panic attacks/tears/big fears/anger/overwhelm. Bad. And you know what helped?" In a subsequent post, she continued: "I ate a corn on the cob. Turns out it's extremely hard to panic or cry while eating one. Highly recommend." Despite the tough day, Jessie stressed the importance of speaking out about emotions and being authentic amidst personal challenges. In doing so, she believes you may learn to better cope with the problem and heal over time. This morning, she continued: "It's key to acknowledge fear, anger, sadness, panic, overwhelm and let it come up and come out. Holding it in won't make it go away. In any challenging situation in life. "So, when I posted what I did yesterday about my current challenge in life, also while making light of the situation. That was one day in 10 weeks that I just lost it and was completely drowned in all the negative and bad feelings any cancer journey can bring. READ MORE: Ex-Loose Women's Saira Khan credits 'glowing skin' to one affordable food "Which is healthy and needed. [In my opinion]. I say this because I have had a lot of people since I posted that say to me things like, 'Don't think about the negative' and 'To beat this you have to stay strong', 'Good thoughts only' - and don't get me wrong, I know all are meant with well intention and love. "But it's sparked me thinking about how interesting it is in what we individually see as being strong is. I have always advocated for being real. Honest in your feelings. We cannot heal what we don't acknowledge etc. "Just don't unpack your suitcase and live in it. Or let it define you... So I will cry. I will be scared. I will panic. I will feel all of it for a minute or even a full day. And then eat a corn or listen to a song that lifts me up. "Or laugh with a friend on [FaceTime]. And then go and be Mum, and go to work and show up and be what I feel 90% of the time. Strong, fearless, healthy, and make some jokes about it all because that's my way. But I will not ignore the 10% that is fear and the sadness." In a separate post last week, Jessie also emphasised that while 'cancer sucks in any form', she is eager to remain hopeful and is holding on to the word 'early'. The 37-year-old is due to undergo surgery following her performance at Capital Radio's Summertime Ball, which is taking place on June 16. "It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse - that's the bit that kills me," she said last week. "I just want to just let you guys know it wasn't something I'd planned, but yeah."
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
Celebrity breast cancer announcements highlight rising rates in young women
Several young celebrities have announced breast cancer diagnoses in the past year — a public reminder that rates are rising among women under 50 in the U.S. Pop singer Jessie J, 37, revealed this week on Instagram that she has early-stage breast cancer and plans to undergo surgery later this month. Katie Thurston, former star of 'The Bachelorette,' has documented her journey with Stage 4 breast cancer on social media after being diagnosed earlier this year at age 34. And actor Danielle Fishel, known for her role on the '90s sitcom 'Boy Meets World,' revealed her diagnosis at age 43 to fans last summer. New breast cancer diagnoses in young women have gone up considerably in the last decade. From 2012 to 2021 — the most recent decade of data — the rate increased 1.4% annually in women under 50, compared with 0.7% annually in women 50 and up. The trend applies to all racial or ethnic groups, particularly Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50, for whom diagnoses have risen nearly 50% since 2000. Black women have the highest rate of breast cancer before age 40 and are most likely to die of the disease. Women under 40 generally aren't advised to get mammograms unless they have a strong risk factor for breast cancer, such as a family history or genetic mutation. In that case, the American Cancer Society recommends mammograms starting at age 30, plus an annual breast MRI. Several breast cancer doctors said younger patients and their clinicians should be careful not to dismiss symptoms such as a lump or nipple discharge. 'The thought was always, if you had a change in your breast but you were a young woman, it was probably nothing,' said Dr. Rani Bansal, an assistant professor at the Duke University School of Medicine. 'As we're seeing more and more younger women get diagnosed … we need to take these cases seriously.' Dr. Oluwadamilola Fayanju, chief of breast surgery at Penn Medicine, said her youngest patient diagnosed with cancer was just 17. She recommended that young women with symptoms go to a center that's experienced in breast imaging. For women with an elevated risk of breast cancer, she said, 'it may be better for you to be connected with a dedicated breast provider who can keep a close eye on you and do regular exams even well before 40.' Breast cancer in young women is often more aggressive As treatment options for breast cancer have improved, the overall mortality rate among younger women with the disease declined from 2010 to 2020, according to research presented in April at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Chicago. But young women are still more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer compared with older women. One reason could be that they're not getting screened as much, so it's harder to catch cases early. Young women are also more likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which tends to spread fast and has fewer treatment options. Dr. Virginia Borges, a professor of medical oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, said all women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 35 have a higher likelihood of the cancer spreading to the rest of their bodies, for reasons doctors don't fully understand. 'It's like this great big puzzle of all these different factors that can contribute to why we see these cancers behave the way they do,' Borges said. Bansal said doctors are hoping to learn more about which treatments are better suited to women under 50. 'We need more data to better tailor our treatments towards younger women,' she said. 'A lot of the studies that are done are in older women.' Lifestyle, environment, hormones There are several mysteries as to why younger women are diagnosed with breast cancer at higher rates. Doctors generally agree that multiple factors are at play, including lifestyle, hormones and environmental exposures. Diets high in ultra-processed foods or a lack of physical activity can lead to obesity, which in turn elevates one's cancer risk. Women in their 30s and 40s have also increased their alcohol consumption in recent decades, and drinking alcohol is linked to breast cancer. Exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution, forever chemicals or microplastics could also play a role. 'By the time women now in their 40s were babies, every single baby bottle had BPA. Everyone had Teflon pans in their home. Everyone was spraying Scotchgard around their home,' said Suzanne Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, a nonprofit that works to eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals. Several researchers said more data is needed to definitively draw that link. 'Hopefully within the next few years, we should be having more insight into how those early life exposures drive the risk of breast cancer,' said Dr. Adetunji Toriola, a professor of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Some studies have suggested that chemical hair straighteners, which are predominantly used by Black women, may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Fayanju said the straighteners 'can potentially have effects on our ability to process hormones in our body and how those hormones then interact with cells in our breasts, which have receptors for those hormones.' Changes in women's reproductive lives might have some effect as well. Girls in the U.S. are starting their periods slightly earlier in life compared with decades ago. That may increase the length of time in which they're exposed to higher levels of estrogen — a hormone that in some cases can feed cancer cells. A study last year found an increase in the number of women ages 20 to 49 diagnosed with breast cancer that was responsive to estrogen. Many women are also delaying childbirth until their 30s and 40s, which increases the risk of postpartum breast cancer — cancers that occur within five to 10 years of giving birth that appear to be linked to changes in the breasts during that time. Borges estimated that there are about 18,000 new cases of postpartum breast cancer each year. 'How do you get from the millions of women who are having children without ending up with one of these breast cancers to the 18,000 or so who are going to get one of these breast cancers?' she said. 'We're still working on figuring that out. Age is important.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
At 26, I thought I was knackered from looking after a new puppy and working nights – but it was actually ‘silent' cancer
Hannah shares how she finally uncovered her true diagnosis, and how the terrifying ordeal has left her infertile HIDDEN THREAT At 26, I thought I was knackered from looking after a new puppy and working nights – but it was actually 'silent' cancer WITH a new puppy and a night-shift job, Hannah Coggles put her constant exhaustion down to her hectic routine. When her symptoms worsened, the then-26-year-old soon thought she might be pregnant, but repeated tests confirmed this wasn't the case so she brushed her concerns aside. 14 Hannah Coggles, with her puppy Noodle, when she started to feeling exhausted Credit: Supplied 14 Then then-26-year-old was later diagnosed with cancer Credit: Supplied Even when some unexplained bruising appeared, Hannah didn't think too much of it. She was otherwise healthy after all. It wasn't until she nearly collapsed at work that she thought something more serious might be at play. Hannah, from Swaffham, Norfolk, tells Sun Health: 'In October 2020, I was deeply fatigued almost all the time. 'My husband George and I had recently got a fox red Labrador called Noodle, just before we got married, and it was exhausting. 'I almost passed out a couple of times - once at home, once at work. 'At one point I did think that maybe I was pregnant, but the tests were showing negative. 'I then got bruises on my arms and legs. They weren't necessarily big ones, but they were taking an incredibly long time to heal, and my other symptoms weren't improving.' That finally prompted her to book a GP appointment. Due to Covid restrictions at the time, this was over the phone - but thankfully, the doctor listened. Believing she might be anaemic, Hannah was referred for a blood test and the very next day she got a call from a nurse on the Macmillan Ward. Charities have raised concerns over the population's 'non-existent' awareness of leukaemia symptoms 'She told me to bring an overnight bag. I knew something wasn't right,' she recalls. In January 2021, Hannah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) - a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. There are around 760 new cases diagnosed every year in the UK. 'I couldn't process anything the consultant was saying,' Hannah says. 'It was too much for my brain to process in the moment. 'I just remember calling my loved ones. There were so many tears, a lot of crying between me and my husband.' But there was no time to pause. She was admitted to the ward immediately, with treatment set to begin within days. The pandemic meant she faced much of it alone in hospital, but FaceTime, phone calls, and quizzes with family and friends helped keep her grounded. Hannah was moved from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, where she was able to see friends and family through a window, to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where she was in a top floor ward, with no visitors permitted. The gravity of the situation hit me hard and fast. I remember having a little breakdown the day I was due to go in to start my stem cell transplant treatment Hannah Coggles 'My support system was incredible,' Hannah, a housewife and karate instructor, says. 'My parents made long journeys just to drop off food and essentials, my husband brought clean clothes, and the nurses were amazing too. It was the little things that kept me going.' Hannah underwent IV and oral chemotherapy, countless blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and intrathecal procedures. When targeted therapy failed, she had her ovary removed in the hope of preserving fertility. Then came high-dose chemo and radiotherapy to prepare her for a stem cell transplant from her sister Olivia in November 2021. 14 Hannah initially brushed her exhaustion aside, then thought she might be pregnant Credit: Supplied 14 She later noticed small bruising on her arms and legs Credit: Supplied 14 A trip to the GP revealed she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) Credit: Supplied 14 She underwent treatment, including a stem cell transplant from her sister Olivia Credit: Supplied Physically, treatment left her weak and drained. 'I lost weight and couldn't tolerate the taste of onion or garlic, things I used to love,' she says. 'As a result, I lost a lot of weight and was very unwell.' Mentally, she held it together, until just before the transplant. 'The gravity of the situation hit me hard and fast,' Hannah says. 'I remember having a little breakdown the day I was due to go in to start my stem cell transplant treatment. 'But luckily I managed to stay as positive as I possibly could and faced every challenge head on.' Warning signs of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ACUTE lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It starts from white blood cells called lymphocytes and usually develops quickly over days or weeks. Around 790 people are diagnosed with ALL every year in the UK. But cases of leukaemia generally are rising. Since the early 1990s, incidence rates have increased by around 15 per cent in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. There is a similar trend in the United States, particularly in teenagers. A report by the American Cancer Society estimated there will be 66,890 new leukaemia cases and 23,540 deaths in 2025. Dr Keith Pratz, MD, director of the Leukemia Program at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center, told Blood Cancers Today: "Incidence rates of leukaemia are rising in adults based on SEER data going back as far as 1975. "Many believe these are changes due to children and young adults living longer over that period, with death from other causes going down. "There is a small but meaningful increase in younger adults with leukaemia, and we need improved reporting of risks found in these young adults to improve our understanding of this issue." The most common symptoms of leukaemia include: Feeling weak or tired Shortness of breath Pale skin A high temperature or fever Picking up or not being able to shake off infections easily Bruising and bleeding easily Swelling of your lymph nodes Pain in your bones or joints Feeling full or pain in your tummy Weight loss Most people with these symptoms don't have leukaemia, but it's important to get them checked by your GP. Some people also experience no symptoms at all, or very minor ones which are easily brushed aside. Source: Cancer Research UK Even small victories mattered. 'I did laps around my bed and practiced karate. I had to keep moving,' she adds. Her time in hospital meant she didn't get to see much of little Noodle, but she was always 'so excited' to see her when she did. 'Watching her grow via pictures was sad as I missed out on a lot of the puppy stage,' Hannah adds. Thankfully, the treatment worked and Hannah, 31, is now in remission and back home. But her journey continues. She has routine check-ups, will continue to take daily antibiotics for the rest of her life to protect her spleen, and is on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), usually taken during the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, as treatment has left her infertile. Despite continued difficulties, her perspective on life has shifted completely. 'Remission doesn't mean the ordeal is magically over' 'I've made a lot of progress physically,' Hannah, who now also has a goldador dog called Queso, says. 'My muscles and joints aren't what they used to be, and the fatigue is still there. But I'm alive, and I'm grateful. 'I say 'yes' more. I don't let people take me for granted. 'The little problems don't matter so much now and I've found peace in my own company.' She stays strong in mind and body through regular gym workouts, karate practice, and dog walks - as well as staying close to her family and friends. 14 The karate enthusiast started to feel unwell in October 2020 Credit: Supplied 14 She had chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy Credit: Supplied 14 Hannah is now in remission, but she says the ordeal 'isn't magically over' Credit: Supplied 14 Hannah with her husband George Credit: Supplied For anyone newly diagnosed, Hannah's advice is simple and powerful. 'Stay positive,' she says. 'Don't be too hard on yourself, even though it may feel like the world is crashing down. 'Some people may not be there for you that you thought would, and that's OK. Not everyone knows the right words to say - just know that it's nothing you have done. 'Get up and move, even if you're tired. And drink water - lots of water - I can't stress that enough!' And she has a message she wants the world to hear. 'Remission isn't the end,' Hannah says. 'It doesn't magically mean the ordeal is over. 'A lot of us still live with the effects of what we have experienced. 'Be patient with us. And please, learn the signs.' 'A powerful reminder' Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer. There are many different types, but collectively it affects around 10,300 people every year in the UK. Common symptoms include: Feeling weak or tired A high temperature or fever Bruising and bleeding easily Picking up or not being able to shake off infections easily Weight loss Pale skin Shortness of breath Swelling of your lymph nodes Feeling full in your tummy Colin Dyer, CEO at Leukaemia Care, says: 'Hannah's story is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to spot the signs of leukaemia early. 'Fatigue, bruising, and persistent illness are often dismissed but they can be symptoms of something far more serious. 'Every day in the UK, 28 people are diagnosed with leukaemia, and early diagnosis can make all the difference. 'Through the #SpotLeukaemia campaign, with support from JCDecaux Community Channel, we want to ensure that everyone knows what symptoms to look out for and what to do if they are worried about a possible leukaemia diagnosis. 'The sooner someone is diagnosed, the better their treatment outcome. Early diagnosis saves lives.' 14 Hannah and George got fox red Labrador Noodle just before they got married Credit: Supplied 14 Hannah wants to warn others to look out for symptoms Credit: Supplied 14 She also wants people to be 'be patient' with anyone going through cancer treatment Credit: Supplied 14 Noodle with the couple's other dog Queso Credit: Supplied Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, adds: 'Unlike solid tumours, leukaemia can usually be diagnosed by a simple full blood count test. 'Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia until they or someone they know is diagnosed, which can lead to dangerous delays. 'Early diagnosis saves lives, so we want to make sure more people are aware of the signs and symptoms and know to contact their GP to ask for a blood test if they're experiencing them, just like Hannah did. 'Together, we can stop leukaemia from devastating so many lives.'
