The short answer
Anastacia was first diagnosed with early breast cancer in 2003 at age 34, found during a scan before a planned breast reduction, and treated with surgery and radiotherapy. When cancer returned in 2013, she chose a double mastectomy. She has described herself as cancer-free and become an outspoken advocate.
Anastacia was first diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2003 at age 34, discovered during a pre-operative scan before a planned breast reduction.
Her first cancer was treated with surgery to remove it, followed by radiotherapy.
Breast cancer returned about a decade later, in 2013, and she chose to have a double (bilateral) mastectomy.
She has said she had prepared herself years earlier for the possibility of a double mastectomy if the cancer ever came back.
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The full explanation.
Who she is
Anastacia is an American pop and soul singer, known for powerhouse hits like "I'm Outta Love" and "Left Outside Alone," with a huge following across Europe. Beyond her music, she has become one of the most recognizable voices on breast cancer, having faced the disease not once but twice — and speaking about it with unusual frankness and humor.
The diagnosis
Anastacia's first encounter with breast cancer came in 2003, when she was 34. It was found almost by accident: she was having a pre-operative scan ahead of a planned breast reduction when the imaging unexpectedly revealed an early-stage breast cancer. She has reflected that she might never have had that scan otherwise — meaning the routine imaging is very likely what caught the cancer early.
A decade later, in 2013, the cancer returned. This second diagnosis reshaped her choices in a way her first had not.
What happened
For her first cancer in 2003, Anastacia had the cancer surgically removed and then underwent radiotherapy. She recovered and returned to her career.
When the disease came back in 2013, she made a bigger decision: a double, or bilateral, mastectomy, removing both breasts. Notably, this was not a snap decision. She has said that after her first diagnosis she had already thought through what she would do if the cancer ever returned, and had decided she would likely choose a double mastectomy to avoid facing the disease a third time.
She has been open that the road was not easy — describing multiple follow-up surgeries as part of her reconstruction — but has spoken about the outcome without regret, describing herself as cancer-free and framing her survival as a hard-won victory. She has also credited friends who had been through similar experiences with supporting her.
What her story teaches
Anastacia's story highlights parts of the breast cancer experience that a single diagnosis does not always show — especially recurrence, when cancer comes back after treatment. Her two diagnoses, ten years apart, are a reminder that follow-up and monitoring remain important long after someone is declared cancer-free.
Her first diagnosis also shows how imaging can catch cancer early even when nobody is looking for it. Her cancer was found on a scan done for another reason entirely. That is a version of the same lesson behind routine screening: breast cancer is most treatable when it is caught small and early, often before any symptom appears. It is still worth knowing the symptoms of breast cancer, which include a new lump, thickening, or changes to the breast or nipple.
Her second decision — a double mastectomy — illustrates that treatment choices widen when cancer recurs, and that they are deeply personal. Some people facing a return of the disease choose more extensive surgery to reduce the odds of yet another recurrence. Our overview of breast cancer treatment explains how surgery, radiation, and other options are weighed, and how the stage of a cancer shapes the plan.
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The bottom line
Anastacia faced breast cancer twice — early-stage disease found by chance in 2003, and a recurrence in 2013 that led her to choose a double mastectomy. As a two-time survivor and outspoken advocate, her story underlines why monitoring continues after treatment, and how personal the choices around recurrence can be.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸What kind of cancer did Anastacia have?
She was diagnosed with breast cancer, not once but twice — first in 2003 and again in 2013. Her first diagnosis was an early-stage breast cancer found during a scan before a planned breast reduction procedure.
▸How was her first breast cancer found?
It was discovered by chance in 2003 during a pre-operative scan ahead of a breast reduction. She has reflected that she might not have gone for that scan otherwise, which means the imaging is likely what caught the cancer early.
▸Why did she have a double mastectomy the second time?
When cancer returned in 2013, Anastacia chose a bilateral (double) mastectomy — removing both breasts. She has said she had decided years earlier, after her first diagnosis, that if the disease ever came back she would likely choose that option to reduce the chance of facing it again.
▸Is Anastacia a survivor now?
Yes. She has described herself as cancer-free following her treatment and has spoken openly and often about her experience, becoming a well-known advocate for breast cancer awareness.
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