Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis reveals her breast cancer has spread after denying double mastectomy

Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has confirmed her breast cancer is now stage four after she decided not to go against doctor's orders and undergo a double mastectomy.

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

In an interview with CNN's Stephanie Elam, Lewis said she decided to 'keep' her tumor and explained her reasons for refusing to have surgery again when it was first diagnosed.

'My first plan is to flush out excess toxins from my body. My body felt smart and I knew it was true. Our bodies are wonderfully made,' Lewis explained.

'I decided to keep my tumor and try to get it out of my body in a different way,' she continued: 'Looking back on it, I go, “You know what? Maybe I should have.”

Ananda sat down for a chat with CNN's Stephanie Elam (right) and journalist Sarah Sidner, who is battling breast cancer.

Instead, Louise pursued homeopathic remedies as well as drugs and radiation, and although her condition improved for a while, she discovered last year that her cancer had spread.

'My lymph nodes were literally inflamed. It was the first time I had a conversation with death, because I realized: this is how it is,” she said honestly.

'I was like, “Fudge man, I thought I had this.” I was frustrated, I was a little angry with myself, and I said, “Listen, man. I know you're coming for me at some point. But it doesn't want to be now. If you can wait, I promise I'll make it fun for you when you come.

'I had that conversation lying in my bed. I couldn't get out of bed for eight weeks,' Lewis added.

Referring to her decision not to have the operation, Louise said: 'My quality of life is very important to me, I know I'm not going to be perfect like some things, I know myself. I want to be here, so I had to do it a certain way for myself.'

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

Sydner, 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.'

Speaking about their candid conversation on Instagram, Elam said: 'Ananda Lewis and Sarah Sydner – these two are my sisters, my chosen family. We are there for each other through good and bad.

Ananda, pictured here in 1998, worked as an MTV VJ and hosted her own talk show.

The TV star, pictured here in March 2007, pursued homeopathic remedies as well as drugs and radiation, and also improved her diet.

'So when they both started their breast cancer journey, I didn't know how to support them and I also realized that I didn't know what modern cancer treatment would look like.'

He continued: 'I am forever grateful that they were willing to open up to the world – to have this conversation with me.

'If just one woman gets a mammogram through this conversation, that's a win. I want everyone to live a long and healthy life,' he said.

Lewis served as an MTV VJ from the late 1990s until 2001, when he left the network to host his own broadcast syndicated television talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show.

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