PINKtober: If you’ve to lose both breasts to survive, do it, Stephanie Benson says

Stephanie Benson, the UK-based Ghanaian international singer and philanthropist, is advising cancer patients that it is better to lose both breasts during treatment than hold on to them and die.

“If the decision arises and you have to take off your breast to survive, make that decision; don’t lose your life because of vanity,” the 53-year-old singer noted in an interview.

Having survived breast cancer since 2015, Benson called on breast cancer patients to always maintain a positive outlook because that is part of the healing process.

“When I first found out, it was shocking; it happened with my cervix first and then my breast. And it pushed me straight into menopause,” she said in reference to her initial experience.

“I had to get my body back to working condition,” Benson said as she touched on her survival journey. “To be honest, if I wasn’t as healthy in exercise as I was, there was no way I would have survived.”

Gruelling surgery
Benson has publicly talked about surviving breast cancer after undergoing a total of 28 hours of surgery within three days.

“The surgery itself to remove my breast was a very ridiculously, stressful one.

“But early checks are the best way to save your life – at least to have a chance of surviving. Make sure you check yourself once a month, please, and make sure you are safe,” the Humanitarian Platinum Leadership Awardee said,.

“Don’t let vanity determine whether you live or die,” Benson said.

In October 2018, 3Foundation made her a brand ambassador to lead a breast cancer awareness campaign where she helped raised funds to support women affected by breast cancer to undergo reconstructive surgeries.