Throwback to brighter days: Channing Tatum and Jessie J pictured looking loved-up at the 2020 MusiCares gala in LA — before life threw a few unexpected curveballs. Fast-forward to 2025, and the pop powerhouse is once again proving her strength, facing an early breast cancer diagnosis with the same fierce spirit that made her a star.Credit: Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock.
Britain’s favourite pop diva Jessie J reveals shock cancer diagnosis – but she’s not backing down
She sang “It’s not about the money,” but now it’s all about the fight — as pop powerhouse Jessie J has revealed she’s been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, just weeks before she’s due to light up the stage at Wembley.
The Essex-born superstar, 37, shared the news on Instagram, telling fans she’ll undergo surgery after performing at Capital’s Summertime Ball later this month. But in true Jessie fashion, the message came with raw honesty, a dose of humour — and strength in spades.
“Cancer sucks in any form, but I’m holding on to the word ‘early’,” she said in a video to her 13 million followers.
“I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I’ll come back with more music.”
From west end prodigy to platinum pop icon
Born Jessica Ellen Cornish in Redbridge, London, Jessie first dazzled audiences on the West End stage at just 11 years old. By 16, she was training at the BRIT School (alongside Adele and Leona Lewis) and writing global hits for other artists before launching her own chart-topping career with Price Tag in 2011.
She became the first British female solo artist to land six UK Top 10 singles from a debut album — with Domino, Bang Bang, and Who You Are catapulting her onto the global stage.
But behind the fame, she’s no stranger to challenges. Diagnosed with a heart condition as a child, she suffered a stroke at 18, battled Ménière’s disease in 2020, and shared the heartbreak of a miscarriage in 2021.
‘I just couldn’t’: The offer she had to turn down
Just weeks before revealing her diagnosis, Jessie told BBC Radio 2’s Scott Mills she had turned down a major Broadway role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
“My son was too young. I just couldn’t,” she said, referring to her baby boy, Sky, born in May 2023 with partner Chanan Colman. The role would have marked a return to her musical theatre roots — but family came first.
In July 2024, she also revealed she had been diagnosed with ADHD and OCD, saying the discoveries helped her “re-think her whole life”.
And now, faced with cancer, she’s doing what she’s always done: speaking up, facing forward, and finding power in connection.
Hugs, heartbeats, and hard truths
“I’ve been in and out of tests,” she explained. “I just wanted to be open and share it. I know how much sharing has helped me, and I hope it helps someone else too. I’m an open book.”
Her announcement drew an outpouring of love, with TV presenter Gaby Roslin among the many to comment: “So much love and enormous hugs.”
As the nation reacted, doctors issued fresh reminders for women to check themselves regularly.
“Know what’s normal for you,” the NHS advises. “This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your breasts.”
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the UK, with 1 in 7 expected to develop it at some point in their lives.
Jessie’s decision to speak out could make all the difference — raising awareness, encouraging checks, and offering solidarity to thousands going through the same.
A pop phoenix who always rises
For over a decade, Jessie J has turned pain into power and setbacks into comebacks — from stadium stages to TV screens across the world. Whether it’s belting out hits, mentoring new talent, or opening up about life’s hardest moments, she’s done it all on her own terms. She also has something that’s very rare nowadays, a sense of humour.
She also has something that’s very rare nowadays, a sense of humour.
“It’s a very dramatic way to get a boob job,”
she said, with a characteristically dry laugh, referring to her upcoming surgery following her early breast cancer diagnosis.
This latest challenge? Just another chapter in a story defined by resilience.
And if we know Jessie, she’ll come back stronger than ever — with truth in her lyrics, power in her voice, and fire in her fight.
Sidebar | Breast cancer in Spain: a well-known threat we still underestimate
Breast cancer isn’t just a UK issue — it’s a growing challenge across Europe.
In Spain, more than 36,000 women are expected to be diagnosed in 2024, making it the most common cancer among women, according to SEOM (Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica). Around 1 in 8 Spanish women will face a diagnosis in her lifetime.
While early detection has improved survival, nearly 1 in 3 women diagnosed early will still experience a metastatic relapse — often within a few years — with median survival dropping below three years. Experts also warn of a worrying rise in cases among women under 45, linked to delayed motherhood, fewer children, and earlier puberty.
Public awareness is high — but many survivors say post-treatment life is under-discussed, and emotional or physical recovery often goes unsupported.
The challenge now? Not just helping women live longer, but live better after cancer.
Stay tuned to the Euro Weekly News for more Spanish living.
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