Ananda Lewis knows persons are questioning her judgment after revealing she selected to maintain the lump after being diagnosed with stage III breast cancer – which has since spread to stage IV. The former MTV VJ just wants everyone to get the correct message from her story.

After a Breast Cancer Awareness Month roundtable with Stephanie Elam and CNN anchor Sara Sidner, during which Lewis, 51, shared that she refused to have the tumor surgically removed and as an alternative tried homeopathic methods, she was met with backlash opposition.

During an appearance in the ultimate episode of “Soulibration” on Blackdoctor.org admitted that if she heard the identical story, “I would think it was some crazy mess too.”

With a laugh, she added, “That just sounds crazy.”

Lewis explained that she was moved to Stage IV last October and was very sick on the time. Today, after much trial and error and a combination of conventional and integrative treatment methods, she is doing “fantastically.” Understands that when talking about cancer, words like “stage IV” or “cancer spreading” can sound scary.

However, she said, “Many words, even though we really attach to them, have no meaning.”

She explained that every stage has its nuances and emphasized that cancer can affect people in other ways. With that in mind, she noted, “We need to be more open to people making choices that benefit them and not getting in the way of them.”

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Online critics weren’t the one ones who expressed concerns about Lewis’ decision.

“I made choices that I knew people didn’t agree with – the people closest to me didn’t agree with them when I made them,” she said.

She continued: “It could have been a mistake on my part to not have the surgery. I do not know. I even have no intention of going back. I’m pleased where I’m now, so whatever the mistakes I’ve made, I’m in a excellent place.

“We all have to make our own choices,” she said, adding: “I live with the consequences of my decisions.”

Despite the backlash she’s received since her original comments caused a web-based storm, Lewis is “grateful” in the meanwhile.

“I’m grateful that this started some really needed and difficult conversations that a lot of people don’t want to have,” the previous BET “Teen Summit” host continued. “I’m here for this.”

Some of those difficult conversations include admitting the primary mistake she herself made.

“My biggest mistake is the one I’ve been talking about from the beginning: not getting a mammogram,” she explained.

While she continues to be hesitant about mammography attributable to its ineffectiveness in detecting her mother’s breast cancer, Lewis admitted that she could have used other early detection methods, including 3D ultrasound. She also said that if she had done much of what she does now to remain healthy ten years ago, she may not be here.

“And that’s what I want people to take away from this situation,” she continued. “Really, how do you protect yourself from this?”

Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand is increasing its commitment to the Black community with its latest partnership with StoryCorps. Combining Jordan’s financial resources and StoryCorps’ intended storytelling format, the project “Brightness in black“the collaboration is a three-year initiative that goals to gather and share diverse stories related to the Black experience while difficult common stereotypical, pervasive narratives.

“Jordan Brand’s commitment to the Black community is endless – it is central to who we are as a brand,” said Sarah Mensah, president of Jordan Brand, in a press release. “We are incredibly proud to be a part of the work StoryCorps is doing with Brightness in Black, ensuring that the voices and stories of the Black community remain a part of our collective history.

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By giving the microphone back to Black communities, Brightness in Black encourages Black people across the country to query and reclaim the usually one-dimensional and oversimplified narratives which might be often told by sharing personal stories of triumph, challenge, resilience, and gratitude.

Understanding that the Black experience isn’t monolithic and varies by region, StoryCorps and Jordan Brand are committed to traveling to diverse locations across the country to capture these stories. Working concurrently in two “Anchor Communities,” Brightness in Black will partner with local media and community organizations to document and disseminate the stories of those Black communities and host events in hopes of constructing the capability of those cities to sustain the long-term work of fixing the narrative. This 12 months, Brightness in Black will give attention to Atlanta and Philadelphia, with the remaining 4 major cities to be announced.

“Building relationships takes time,” Clark added. “You know, we actually desired to take the time to know the communities that we were working in, really construct relationships in the fitting way, and likewise step up the work that our community partners are doing. We didn’t wish to jump in and out.

To help with this work, StoryCorps and Jordan Brand have launched a six-month paid scholarship program for juniors and seniors attending HBCUs or community colleges in participating Anchor Community regions. Each 12 months, the organization will select six fellows who will play a key role in implementing the Brightness in Black mission by serving as interview coordinators and participating in community learning workshops. When planning to host pop-ups outside of this 12 months’s Anchor Communities, Clark emphasized that there are alternative ways to participate in Brightness in Black. In addition to partnering with Black media for national syndication, Brightness in Black invites people to record and share their stories at home via StoryCorps App.

“You know, it’s about atypical people sharing their stories. Often individuals who should not there are invisible, right, unheard and infrequently asked. And I feel that is what stands out essentially the most,” Clark concluded. “These are stories that break stereotypes. These are stories in which nobody is attempting to be famous. When we take into consideration every thing that happens on our phones, it looks like we’re capturing stories (via) photos (and videos) all day long and so they all add as much as something. But there’s something completely different if you intentionally sit with another person and share something so atypical yet extraordinary.

After spending lower than $600 on her Las Vegas wedding to sportscaster Daren Dukes 24 years ago, actress Shanola Hampton has only one regret.

The 47-year-old ‘Found’ actress recalls her 2000 Sin City wedding with ‘Dallas cowboy show” commentator, 51, who in an interview for the magazine “supposedly” cost her only $532 People Magazine.

“Honey, we got married at the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas,” Hampton told the publication, adding that the couple eloped on the storied hotel’s Fountain Chapel.

“And no one even knew we were there,” she continued. “It was this perfect little thing that just the two of us did.”

Hampton and Dukes were capable of keep costs down on their big day by not inviting guests, finding old clothes for the ceremony and never spending money on extras like hair and makeup. Instead, Hampton stayed on trend amongst many black women within the late ’90s and early 2000s by curling her hair like Erykah Badu.

After the intimate ceremony, the newlyweds went to a buffet after which went to a strip club. When it was all said and done, she said her only regret was that “we were too broke at the time to buy the package that included the videotape because I remember him saying the most beautiful vows to me and it was really funny.” to observe them back.

She continued, “Oh man, if only we could see what it would be like.”

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They managed to take photos.

“Oh, there are photos, but you can see him saying his vows to me and I’m just looking at them like an idiot,” Hampton said jokingly, adding, “I just say, ‘I love you.'”

The two have since returned to the scene. They recently took their two children, daughter Cai MyAnna (10) and son Daren OC (8), to Fountain Chapel during a visit to the famous Nevada city.

Hampton noted that she also remembered what the minister told them before their wedding.

He said, “It doesn’t change the person across from you.” If you think that that suddenly you take a look at someone and that marriage will turn them into another person, then that is not what marriage is about and that is not what it’s for. So take a look at the person you might be marrying, because that’s who they’re. This was very big news for us,” says Hampton.

“I still think it was a very good lesson,” he continues. “Yes, you learn, grow and evolve. But you do not change one another by marrying.”

In the caption of a recent anniversary tribute post on the location Instagram featuring a photograph of the 2 people hugging, Hampton wrote: “I like seeing the world with you and sharing this amazing life together! We know all those on the opposite side who had a hand on this relationship! Thank you!”