On October 30, Grammy-nominated R&B singer Shanice made a powerful appearance on Good Morning America, opening up about her recent breast cancer diagnosis. The singer, known for her 1991 hit “I Love Your Smile,” spoke candidly about her journey from a misdiagnosed scare years ago to a confirmed cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Shanice revealed that her initial experience over a decade ago had left her terrified. “Because of the fear that I had when they thought they saw something, I didn’t go for eight years,” she shared. After doctors initially found a lump that turned out to be a benign cyst, Shanice avoided mammograms, hoping to avoid further scares. But earlier this year, after noticing a lump, she decided to get checked again. That decision, she now says, saved her life.
Shanice Facing the Diagnosis
When doctors diagnosed Shanice, 51, with breast cancer this spring, they initially believed it was an early form known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a stage-zero cancer confined to milk ducts. “Thank God I caught it early,” she said in a later Instagram post. Opting for a double mastectomy in May, she learned post-surgery that the cancer had progressed further than expected to stage one. “When I had my surgery and they told me I had cancer, I literally lost my smile,” Shanice admitted. But through her journey, she has maintained a focus on staying positive and uplifting other women. “I wanted to come on the show to encourage women that you have to keep smiling. I got my smile back.”
Urging Women to Get Screened
Shanice’s experience has ignited a passion for advocating breast cancer awareness, especially among women who feel apprehensive about screenings. “I just want to tell women how important it is to get your mammograms,” she emphasized on Good Morning America. Reflecting on her delayed mammograms, she expressed, “If I would have gone sooner, I could have caught [it] when it was just at stage zero.” She urges women to set aside any fear of mammograms and prioritize early detection. “Put that fear aside. If you get checked early, you can beat this thing. It’s not a death sentence.”
Shanice hopes her story will empower women to overcome their fears and take proactive steps for their health. With resilience and a renewed outlook, Shanice remains determined to use her platform to spread awareness and keep smiling through life’s challenges.