Months before Ananda Lewis tragically lost her battle with breast cancer, the former MTV VJ shared her reasons for not opting for a double mastectomy. Ananda’s sister, Lakshmi Lewis, announced her passing on June 11, stating that she is now free and in heaven.
Ananda, who was 52 years old, chronicled her cancer journey in an essay for Essence that was published in January. In the essay, she emphasized the importance of taking preventive measures to avoid facing a similar situation. She highlighted the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, proper nutrition, and stress management.
Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in January 2019, Ananda faced a difficult decision regarding treatment. Despite medical recommendations for a radical approach, including a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, she chose to explore alternative methods. She focused on detoxifying her body, improving her diet, and managing stress to support her body’s natural healing abilities.
After feeling the tumor growing again in the summer of 2020, Ananda sought treatment at an integrative health facility in Arizona. Although it was challenging to be away from her son, Langston, she remained determined to regain her health. By December of that year, her cancer had regressed to stage 2, with the tumor decreasing in size and no longer affecting her lymph nodes.
Facing financial struggles and losing her health insurance, Ananda persevered and eventually regained coverage in January 2023. Despite the tumor showing slight growth, it had not spread elsewhere in her body. However, a subsequent scan in October revealed that the cancer had progressed to stage 4, prompting Ananda to resume treatment at a facility in Southern California.
In a candid interview on CNN in 2024, Ananda expressed regret over her decision to forgo more aggressive treatment options earlier in her journey. She acknowledged her mistake and emphasized the importance of learning from it. As of January 2025, she continued to receive standard-of-care medication and integrative therapies, including traditional Chinese medicine and insulin-potentiated chemotherapy when necessary.
Ananda’s story serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of battling cancer. Despite her initial reluctance to pursue traditional treatment methods, she remained committed to her health and wellbeing. Her journey reflects the importance of individualized care and the ongoing pursuit of holistic approaches to fighting this devastating disease. As I reflect on my journey to this point, I realize that my current situation was not solely determined by the choices I made. It’s easy to believe that if I had taken a different path, I wouldn’t be facing stage 4 now. But the truth is, the resources I needed to stay on course were not readily available to me from the beginning. So, here I am, and I accept it for what it is.
It’s important not to paint my story as a cautionary tale about rejecting the conventional path. The reality is that life can take unexpected turns, regardless of the choices we make. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we find ourselves in situations beyond our control.
When I look back on the decisions I made, I see that I did the best I could with the resources I had at the time. I may have said no to the conventional path initially, but that doesn’t mean it would have led me to a different outcome. Life is full of uncertainties, and sometimes, things happen that are beyond our comprehension.
As I navigate through this challenging time, I choose to focus on the present and the future. I refuse to dwell on what could have been or what might have led me to this point. Instead, I will focus on taking each day as it comes and making the most of the resources available to me now.
In the end, it’s not about the choices we make or the paths we take. It’s about how we respond to the challenges that come our way. I may have ended up at stage 4, but I will face it with courage and resilience, knowing that sometimes, life has a way of leading us down unexpected roads.
