Jessie J’s Determination to Change the Narrative About Having Cancer
Jessie J has said she refuses to "sit down and be quiet and cry" following her cancer diagnosis, instead pledging to sing as loudly and proudly as possible. The 37 year old, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, has spoken candidly about her early breast cancer diagnosis and how it has transformed her approach to life.
Shifting Perceptions Surrounding the Illness
Jessie is determined to shift perceptions surrounding cancer and said: "Surely this is an opportunity to change that narrative: 'Oh, if you've got cancer, you should go away and deal with it privately, quietly. No one should know about it. No one wants to see you look rough. And come back when it's all done, and everything's great.' That ain't me." She remains hopeful that her outspoken approach to discussing the illness, rather than retreating from public view, is making a difference. "I hear all the time from people who say that a friend checked her breasts after seeing me talking about it," she continued. "They found a lump, and it's cancer, but they've caught it early."
Medical Treatment and Tour Updates
The mother-of-one revealed in June that she had been diagnosed with the disease, with her initial surgery taking place weeks afterwards. Speaking to Women's Health UK, Jessie discussed how she delayed her surgery that month to perform at Capital's Summertime Ball. She explained: "I feel guilty that not everyone who has to have cancer surgery gets that moment. We're not handcuffed to having to sit down and be quiet and cry because we've got cancer. I'm going to sing Bang Bang as loud as I can."
In August, the singer-songwriter disclosed that she required a second operation before the year's end, forcing her to delay her tour. Her UK and European tour dates have been rescheduled to April 2026, whilst the American portion of the tour has been scrapped entirely. Following her operations, she made her return to the stage in September at BBC's Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford.
Resilience and Health History
Jessie has faced numerous health challenges throughout her life. She said: "Since I was young, so many things have happened to me. I've always had obscure health issues that (doctors) can't figure out. Nothing has broken me."
| Timeframe | Health Milestone / Challenge |
|---|---|
| 8 years old | Heart condition diagnosis |
| 18 years old | Minor stroke |
| 2020 | Temporary deafness |
| 2021 | Miscarriage experienced in November |
| 2023 | Welcomed her son, Sky Safir Cornish Colman |
| 2024 | Early breast cancer diagnosis and initial surgery |
Support and Advice
Jessie also discussed with Women's Health how she reached out to presenter Davina McCall, who revealed her breast cancer diagnosis through an Instagram post last month. Her advice to anyone who's been told they've got cancer is: "This is your thing. You create the bubble that you need to survive."
Professional Accomplishments
The singer-songwriter has topped the UK singles chart three times with hits like Domino, Price Tag and Bang Bang. Her most recent album, Don't Tease Me With A Good Time, was released on November 28, marking her first studio album in nearly ten years.