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Radiation therapy is next step in Anastacia's breast cancer treatment
Singer-songwriter Anastacia , who announced in January that she is battling breast cancer, has undergone successful surgery and will soon begin six weeks of radiation therapy, according to her publicist.
The Chicago-born, New York-raised artist underwent 7 hours of surgery on Feb. 10 to remove the cancer and reconstruct her breast, and doctors termed the surgery a success. She was released from the hospital two days later to continue to recuperate at home.
Anastacia's diagnosis was confirmed as Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, and early detection saved her life, her surgeon said in a statement.
"Although what Anastacia has is serious, she is very lucky," Dr. Alexander Swistel said. "Due to the aggressive nature of her cancer, she was months away from a more immediate life-threatening condition. However, her prognosis is good, as are her spirits, which figures into any patient's successful recovery."
In a statement, Anastacia said: "My will, my faith and my body have been challenged. But make no mistake, my heart is strong and my resolve to fight will never be broken. To all the people that have reached out to wish me well, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
"And in return, if there is anything that I've learned from this experience it is to get a mammogram early. Even if not covered by insurance, give up that pair of shoes, don't go out for that expensive dinner--get a mammogram."
Anastacia Newkirk, 29, released her sophomore album, "Freak of Nature," last year. She has sold more than 5 million albums worldwide, mostly in Europe.
