Pop star Jessie J has made a raw and emotional admission about her ongoing health battle, revealing there is a chance her breast cancer could return. The singer, known for hits like 'Price Tag', also shared the heartbreaking words she told her mother immediately after receiving her diagnosis.
A Mother's First Thought
In a candid interview, the 37-year-old artist recounted the moment she was told she had breast cancer in June of this year. Her first call was to her mother, and the conversation was driven by a powerful, maternal instinct. "I remember calling my mum first and I said 'Well I can't die because I have Skye'," Jessie told ABC News, referring to her young son, born in May 2023.
Jessie J, whose real name is Jessica Ellen Cornish, emphasised her gratitude that the disease was caught at an early, non-invasive stage. "I've been really lucky, super lucky, to find it so early," she stated. However, she acknowledged the lingering uncertainty that faces many cancer survivors, adding: "I know there's a chance it could come back but until then we're living life."
The Surgery and Surreal Recovery
Following her diagnosis, the singer underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery four months ago. She described the experience of going under general anaesthetic as feeling like she was "in an episode of Black Mirror," the dystopian Netflix series. "I hate being put under... You feel like you're in an episode of Black Mirror," she told The Guardian.
She also shared frank details about her recovery and the physical aftermath of the surgery, using a vivid analogy. "I had the mastectomy four months ago and my right breast now looks like a grapefruit under a tight bedsheet," she said, noting the difference in size compared to her original breast. With characteristic dark humour, she joked about the implant size, saying: "How rude! I thought, no need to bully me, I'm already having a rough time."
A Life Marked by Health Challenges
Jessie J reflected that serious health issues have repeatedly coincided with periods of professional success throughout her life. As a child star in London's West End, she was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition.
At age 17, shortly after securing a record deal, she suffered a minor stroke. More recently, a 2020 car crash damaged her larynx just as she was poised to release new music, leaving her unable to sing for a year.
This history of hardship has deeply influenced her music. She recently broke down in tears on stage in London while debuting new songs from her album, including one titled 'Comes In Waves', marking four years since her devastating miscarriage in 2021. She also performed 'I'll Never Know Why', a track dedicated to her bodyguard and friend Dave, who died unexpectedly in 2018.
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Jessie J's focus remains on her son and her future. Her journey from diagnosis through surgery is a testament to her resilience, framed by the love for her child that became her immediate reason to fight. "Cancer sucks, man, but you know what? Thank f*** I found it early," she concluded.
