Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has confirmed that her breast cancer is now in Stage IV after she went against her doctor’s orders and decided against a double mastectomy.

Lewis, 51, was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2020 and confirmed the news on Instagram, admitting that she had refused mammograms for years due to fear of radiation exposure.

In an interview with CNN’s Stephanie Elam, Lewis revealed that she decided to “keep” her tumor and explained her reasons for declining surgery after the initial diagnosis.

“My initial plan was to eliminate excess toxins from my body. I felt like my body was intelligent, I know that. “Our bodies are superbly made,” Lewis explained.

“I decided to keep my tumor and try to get it out of my body another way,” she continued, adding, “When I think back on it, I’m like, ‘You know what? Maybe I should have.”

Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has confirmed her breast cancer is now in stage IV after she decided against having a double mastectomy

Ananda sat down for a conversation with CNN’s Stephanie Elam (right) and journalist Sara Sidner, who is also battling breast cancer

Instead, Lewis used homeopathic remedies as well as medication and radiation, and although her situation improved for a time, she discovered last year that her cancer had spread.

“My lymphatic system really flared up. “It was the first time I spoke to death because I had the feeling: This is how it is,” she said openly.

“I was like, ‘Fudge man, I really thought I had this.’ I was frustrated, I was a little mad at myself and I said, ‘Man, listen. I know you’ll come for me eventually. But I don’t want it to happen now. And if you could just wait.” “I promise, when you come, I’ll make sure you enjoy it.”

“I literally had this conversation in my bed. “I couldn’t get out of bed for about eight weeks,” Lewis added.

Regarding her decision not to have surgery, Lewis said, “My quality of life was very important to me because there are certain things that I know are not right for me and I know myself.” wanted to be here, so I had to do it a certain way, for me.”

Lewis and Elam were joined by journalist Sara Sidner, who is also battling the disease after being diagnosed with stage III breast cancer earlier this year.

Sidner, 52, underwent a double mastectomy in May and said her cancer diagnosis made her realize, “I want to be here… I want to thrive in a way I’ve never felt before.”

Elam wrote about their candid conversation on Instagram: “Ananda Lewis and Sara Sidner – these two are my sisters, my chosen family.” We are there for each other for better or worse.

Ananda, here in 1998, worked as an MTV veejay and then hosted her own talk show

The TV star pictured here in March 2007 used homeopathic remedies as well as medication and radiation and also improved her diet

“When they both began their breast cancer journey, I didn’t know how best to support them, and I also realized I had no idea what modern cancer treatment looked like.”

She continued, “I am eternally grateful to them for their willingness to have this conversation with me – to fully open themselves up to the world.”

“If we can get just one woman to get a mammogram based on this conversation, that’s a success.” “I want everyone to live a long and healthy life.”

Lewis worked as an MTV veejay from the late 1990s until 2001, when she left the network to host her own syndicated television talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show.

She was a correspondent for The Insider from 2004 to 2005. She then became a carpenter and hosted the 2019 revival of While You Were Out on TLC.