Sheryl Crow Shares Self-Care Lesson Breast Cancer Taught Her
During the eighth annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Newport Beach, California, nine-time Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis 11 years earlier, and what it taught her about life.
Talking to Cari Champion, the 55-year-old shared how she thought at the time it was “such a hassle” to get her scheduled yearly mammogram, but it ended up changing her life forever.
“It was cancer. Within a matter of six or seven days, my life just imploded on itself. It made me not only redefine my life, but also refine my life in a lot of different ways. It wound up being a real lifesaver in some strange way about how I was treating myself.”
Crow went on to share her thoughts on how women are so focused on caring for others, they forget to take care of themselves. “This is a good message for all you women that are super achievers, that are the best at getting a thousand things done, making shit happen. That you wind up putting yourself at the bottom.”
After her diagnosis, the most important thing she learned was how to say, “No.” Instead of putting others first, like she had for so long, she now prioritizes herself.
“It’s like that stewardess who comes around, or the flight attendant, who tells you to put your mask on. I kept putting everyone’s oxygen mask on first when I was gasping for air,” Crow added.
In addition to discussing her breast cancer diagnosis, Crow also talked about life as a mom to her two adopted sons, Wyatt and Levi, and dedicated a performance of her song “If It Makes You Happy” to legendary rocker, Tom Petty, who passed away on Monday.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you can catch Crow supporting the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign, which donates money toward cancer screenings, treatment and research.
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Symbiosis
Trish is the Cancer Editor at The Mighty. She lost her father to stage 4 lung cancer in August 2016, and previously worked at a children’s cancer research organization, so she knows firsthand about the cancer experience. A lover of hip hop music, hot sauce and kimchi, she lives in Maryland with her husband, two dogs, cat and feisty 2-year-old daughter. Check her story out in the book, “A Letter to My Mom.“
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