Nightwish’s Floor Jansen Has Breast Cancer, but the “Prognosis is Very Good”
Floor Jansen has breast cancer. The Nightwish frontwoman revealed that information in an open letter to fans in a social media post earlier this morning, stating that she’s known about her diagnosis for a couple weeks, but that she’s taking steps to address the problem.
According to Floor Jansen, her particular situation is that she has a “non-aggressive cancer, which seems to not have spread” that she’s hoping to have removed via surgery tomorrow. Even with that information in mind, the vocalist said she’s optimistic, saying her prognosis is “very good” and that she’ll be “cancer free” after the procedure and an additional local radiation treatment.
Jansen urged fans to get checked or to remind the women in their lives to get a mammogram screening if possible, since that’s the only way she was able to find out about the tumor that was growing in her breast.
“The word cancer is a shocker. All that you found important in life before this diagnosis changes radically within minutes. Now I just want to be healthy again. I want to see my daughter grow into a woman; I want to live! And the scariest part of this diagnosis is that I thought I was healthy! I didn’t feel the cancer, I didn’t know it was there until I, as a 40+ woman, went to a standard mammogram checkup. Something many countries offer, for free even for the lucky ones.”
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and the most common cancer overall, with “more than 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer in women in 2020.” For our American readers, the National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be 287,850 new breast cancer cases this year in the U.S., with an estimated 43,250 deaths as a result of the disease.
Regardless of her diagnosis, Jansen said she is confident that she’ll be able to recover in time to perform with Nightwish during their planned European tour that will start on November 20.
You can read Jansen’s entire statement and view her social media post below.
We at MetalSucks wish Jansen a full and speedy recovery. Fuck cancer.
“A letter to you. Life comes in waves, with ups and downs.
“I have had the joy of riding many highs, and I have shared these with you through social media and the many many shows worldwide throughout the many years of my career.
“But now a new wave hit me. Not a good one. I have breast cancer. It was diagnosed a little over 2 weeks ago and I will have surgery tomorrow to remove the tumor. My prognosis is very good!!! It seems to be a non-aggressive cancer, which seems to not have spread. I will keep my breast. And I will be cancer free after this surgery, plus a local radiation treatment that will take place three months after this surgery, hopefully. We will know more after the surgery to see if this positive prognosis stands.
“The word cancer is a shocker. All that you found important in life before this diagnosis changes radically within minutes. Now I just want to be healthy again. I want to see my daughter grow into a woman; I want to live! And the scariest part of this diagnosis is that I thought I was healthy! I didn’t feel the cancer, I didn’t know it was there until I, as a 40+ woman, went to a standard mammogram checkup. Something many countries offer, for free even for the lucky ones.
“Had I not gone there, the tumuor would have gone undetected. In a year from now this could have grown much bigger. The thought of that makes me share this story with you. A mammogram is lifesaving! It’s uncomfortable and you might think that you won’t have something in your breasts anyway but GO! And for the men reading this: remind your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister to go and get checked. Even without the luxury I as a western woman experience with free mammogram checkups: GO! Luckily, there are many organisations that offer information about self-detection if you do not have access or funds for a mammogram.
“If I might inspire you to take good care of yourself, then something good will come out of this cancer diagnosis.
“If all goes as planned, I will be up and running in time for the European tour with Nightwish, that will start on the 20th of November! And I am optimistic since my prognosis is good! I promise to take good care of myself.
“I will be off the grid for a while to focus on myself.
“Thank you for reading this letter.”
