If you were like many of us who had our televisions glued to MTV back in the day, then you know exactly who Ananda Lewis is. As a former VJ and host, she won the hearts of many with her charisma and vibrant personality. In an unfortunate turn of events, Ananda Lewis announced in 2020 that she had been battling breast cancer for 2 years.
The news was extremely shocking, especially given that the disease had progressed to such a late stage. Her doctors recommended she undergo a double mastectomy, which would remove both of her breasts and ultimately reduce the risk of it developing further. In an effort to be as natural as possible, she opted not to get the surgery and instead changed her way of living by choosing to alter her diet and incorporate a variety of therapies.
After fighting the natural way for 4 years, Lewis updated her fans with the news that her condition had worsened, progressing to stage 4. She always stood by her decision to go the natural route, but in June of 2025, Lewis sadly passed away after putting up a strong fight for over 7 years. As we enter Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s reflect on some things we learned from Lewis over the years.
During her journey, she became an advocate for women’s health by encouraging them to get mammograms regularly, as well as pay attention to what women consume and how they take care of their bodies. She took to her social media platforms to film videos talking about her journey and new ways of detoxing and wellness. She was extremely motivational and encouraging, but most importantly, her tone and confidence spoke volumes as she stood tall and refused to waste energy on giving in to cancer.
She heavily emphasized that, while cancer is incurable, there are many steps we can take in our day-to-day lives to prevent getting it as best we can. In an issue of Essence, she discusses how prevention is the cure and that we should do our research. She says, “I encourage people to look at the information and studies that exist. Seek them out, learn from them, and apply the changes to your life, so that you can continue to thrive and live as long as you can.” She even takes it a step further by pointing out that women of color should be more alert. “As Black women, we have all kinds of factors we’re not even aware of that contribute to cancer impinging upon us. Increase your knowledge about how to prevent getting here in the first place. Prevention is the real cure.”
It’s important to note that most insurance plans cover getting your regular women’s wellness check-ups and mammograms. It is our responsibility to make sure we are taking advantage of the resources afforded to us, and Lewis spoke on that quite often. One of her biggest lessons was that women who opt for the natural way of tackling cancer often do so due to the fear of the unknown. ABC spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast oncologist at NYU Langone Hospital, who offered further insight into why many take the unconventional route like Lewis. Comen says, “Many patients who decline conventional treatments do so due to fear of side effects, distrust of the medical system, or a desire for control. They often choose natural remedies, believing these are safer or better for their health.”
One of the best things about Lewis was her refusal to stay silent and her determination to raise awareness. Her social media is full of photos of her going through treatments from liquid IVs hooked up to her to CT scanning machines. She documented her journey to make sure that what she went through could be a learning opportunity for others. She was such a motivational voice for women who might have either been battling cancer or were simply not well educated on prevention. She was so positive in all of her videos and was loud about informing women about the importance of not ignoring check-ups. She led a tough fight until the very end, and her story was extremely impactful.
Ananda always remained transparent about the choices she made, even the potential consequences that came with avoiding standard cancer treatment with medicines and chemicals. There’s no telling how many lives she saved by advocating, thus leading to some potential early detections. Lewis shed light on a very important debate: how can patients get the support they need to make informed decisions based on what’s best for them? In addition to that, how can medical specialists and doctors tackle the growing distrust and fear women face when presented with treatment options? Lastly, how can the healthcare system offer better options that are affordable so women don’t avoid getting the exams and care they need simply because of a price tag?
Lewis has left many conversations on the table, and, as we approached 2025, she gave some advice to urge women to take action now, rather than later. “Do everything in your power to avoid my story becoming yours. If I had known what I know now 10 years ago, perhaps I wouldn’t have ended up here. I would have been cold plunging, exercising consistently, making sure my vitamin D levels were good, detoxing my body on a monthly and yearly basis, and sleeping better.” Even though she is no longer with us, her impact has left a mark as many women continue to be inspired by the lessons she leaves behind.