As a Black and Native American woman from California and a fellow Howard alum, who once excitedly watched Ananda Lewis light up the screen on MTV, I was saddened to learn of her untimely passing.
Her talent, warmth and honesty touched many lives. But it was her courage in sharing the most painful parts of her health journey that left the most lasting impression on me and, I hope, on all of us.
Ananda was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2019. She revealed that she had avoided regular mammograms due to her fear of radiation. When doctors recommended a double mastectomy, she declined, like too many patients facing difficult options and a deep mistrust of the medical system.
Instead, Ananda chose alternative therapies focused on diet, detoxing and emotional healing. But years later, her cancer progressed to Stage 4. By then, surgery and chemotherapy were no longer viable options.
In her final years, Ananda spoke openly about her regrets. In an Essence essay published earlier this year, she said “prevention is the real cure” and urged Black women to educate themselves about their cancer risk.
“If I had known what I know now 10 years ago…” she said.
Ananda used her voice to spare others from the pain she endured. She reminded us that early detection and treatment save lives.
The statistics make that painfully clear:
- When breast cancer is caught early at a localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 99%.
- Regular mammograms can reduce breast cancer deaths by 20–40% for women ages 40 to 74.
- Despite having a lower incidence of breast cancer than white women, Black women are 40% more likely to die from the disease.
- While Black women have higher mammography rates overall, they are less likely to complete follow-up diagnostics like imaging and biopsies, contributing to delayed diagnoses and worse outcomes.
These disparities reflect broader systemic issues: mistrust in the medical system, inadequate provider communication, and unequal access to high-quality care.
That’s why our work at the African American Wellness Project (https://aawellnessproject.org/) is so important. We aim to equip our community with trusted information, resources, and support to take charge of your health early and confidently.
Ananda’s story underscores how very vital our mission is. Her legacy must not be in vain.
If you are a woman over 30, schedule a mammogram. Do regular self-checks. Talk to your doctor. Ask the hard questions. And if you’re unsure where to begin, know that you are not alone. Because your health is your power and your life is worth fighting for.
Let Ananda’s journey inspire in all of us the urgency to prevent, to empower, and to protect, so that the next Ananda Lewis has more information, more options and most importantly, more time!
Monique LeNoir is board chair of the African American Wellness Project.