ROXANNE SHANTE BATTLES BREAST CANCER
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In April, a New York Daily News article about how '80s rap music pioneer Roxanne Shante forced her record company to finance her college education (resulting in a degree from Marymount Manhattan College and a Ph.D. in psychology from Cornell University) tugged at the heart-strings of Hip Hop America. Soon after, a firestorm of controversy ensued when an article on Slate.com debunked the inspiring story.
Roxanne Shante (nee Lolita Shante Gooden) is widely recognized as the first female hip hop artist to break through the male dominated industry. At the age of 16, she became a household name with songs including 'Roxanne's Revenge' – an "answer" record responding to U.T.F.O.'s popular 'Roxanne, Roxanne.'
She offers Blackvoices.com some insight on the controversy and her very real life battle with breast cancer ... in her own words.
In March, I noticed a lump in my left breast, rather small at the time and didn't really know what I was feeling. So instead of going straight to the doctor's office, I started asking friends their opinion and trying to go by their experiences. It was such a stupid move. Well, I figured I was just getting older. A hysterectomy in my early thirties led me to believe that I would be fine. Another stupid move.
I let months go by – five months to be exact. The weight loss of over 40 pounds made me feel like, "Damn, this diet is finally working." But then I remembered I wasn't on a diet. So on a bright, sunny day in August 2009, I walked into Doshi center for a mammogram. I put on the gown and stepped up to the machine. As soon as the technician took my breast in her hand, she asked me how long had I had the lump. It's huge, she said. I made a joke, she giggled, but I was scared and angry that I had waited so long.
I was in denial. I even went so far as to ignore the letters sent by the lab that read: "Urgent!!! Please contact us."
I had gotten a call from the doctor, "I just received your images at my office and they have been trying to reach you for weeks. As soon as you get back to New York, you come to my office. This is your life."
I hung up, turned the phone off, walked out on the set and tried to pretend that the call never happen. But they did. And it showed on my face.
The doctors was a different story, however.
Roxanne Shante (nee Lolita Shante Gooden) is widely recognized as the first female hip hop artist to break through the male dominated industry. At the age of 16, she became a household name with songs including 'Roxanne's Revenge' – an "answer" record responding to U.T.F.O.'s popular 'Roxanne, Roxanne.'
She offers Blackvoices.com some insight on the controversy and her very real life battle with breast cancer ... in her own words.
In March, I noticed a lump in my left breast, rather small at the time and didn't really know what I was feeling. So instead of going straight to the doctor's office, I started asking friends their opinion and trying to go by their experiences. It was such a stupid move. Well, I figured I was just getting older. A hysterectomy in my early thirties led me to believe that I would be fine. Another stupid move.
I let months go by – five months to be exact. The weight loss of over 40 pounds made me feel like, "Damn, this diet is finally working." But then I remembered I wasn't on a diet. So on a bright, sunny day in August 2009, I walked into Doshi center for a mammogram. I put on the gown and stepped up to the machine. As soon as the technician took my breast in her hand, she asked me how long had I had the lump. It's huge, she said. I made a joke, she giggled, but I was scared and angry that I had waited so long.
I was in denial. I even went so far as to ignore the letters sent by the lab that read: "Urgent!!! Please contact us."
I had gotten a call from the doctor, "I just received your images at my office and they have been trying to reach you for weeks. As soon as you get back to New York, you come to my office. This is your life."
I hung up, turned the phone off, walked out on the set and tried to pretend that the call never happen. But they did. And it showed on my face.
The doctors was a different story, however.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cookie Pie on -
I'm really sorry to hear that ... I really am , I hope she beats it .
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Permalink Reply by Boss/MadamBA on -
Do we believe it? She lied about having a PHD for years..
Cookie Pie said:I'm really sorry to hear that ... I really am , I hope she beats it .
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Permalink Reply by Seductress on -
Another classic case of the boy who cried wolf now I don't know whether to believe her or not. If she is I hope she beats it.
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Permalink Reply by Devyn AKA Dominique Devereaux on -
Damn the diet is working - but then I remembered I wasn't on a diet...HUH?
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Permalink Reply by L0vie D0vie on -
If it IS true, I hope that everything turns out okay.
Boss/MadamBA said:Do we believe it? She lied about having a PHD for years.. Cookie Pie said:I'm really sorry to hear that ... I really am , I hope she beats it .
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Permalink Reply by SjoThePoet on -
Breast cancer is not a joke, I watched my grams go through a lot when she had it. She did survive it however you can't begin to understand how a woman feels when she looses a piece of her. Although it was for the best just imagine one day to wake have your regular check ups & you get a call a week later about coming back in to discuss......your option to live & die whenever it spreads or get surgery done & live with or without a breast.....
-Sjo
This isn't a joke, I hope that she's serious about this. This is a life changing situation!!
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Permalink Reply by lady lynxx- ladylynxx.ning.com on -
Hope this one is not a lie....
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Permalink Reply by Moving In Silence on -
So sad that either she has this terrible situation or that she's sick enough to make something like this up.
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Permalink Reply by Cookie Pie on
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I don't know if we can but we'll find out soon because breast cancer is no joke ! I still can't believe she lied about the PHD , that is just crazy .
Boss/MadamBA said:Do we believe it? She lied about having a PHD for years..
Cookie Pie said:I'm really sorry to hear that ... I really am , I hope she beats it .
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Permalink Reply by hello_kitty_whore on -
I hate to say this but I frankly DON'T believe her. Just something about the lackadaisical approach she took, and the way she reacts. I really don't want her to have it but again I just cant believe that she does. After reading this I just kind of said ok....what next?? Will she become pregnant by immaculate conception with the next coming of Christ?
Cancer is nothing to play with, I have a couple of women in my family who have both passed and survived. I don't find it amusing to make these types of stories up.
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Permalink Reply by JustMe on -
that's the 1st thought that came to my mind when I saw the post...
Boss/MadamBA said:Do we believe it? She lied about having a PHD for years..
Cookie Pie said:I'm really sorry to hear that ... I really am , I hope she beats it .
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Permalink Reply by Boss/MadamBA on
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Yes the story was so elaborate..how she made the music company pay x amount of dollars for her education because of some made up contract she had. She is sick...
Cookie Pie said:I don't know if we can but we'll find out soon because breast cancer is no joke ! I still can't believe she lied about the PHD , that is just crazy .
Boss/MadamBA said:Do we believe it? She lied about having a PHD for years..
Cookie Pie said:I'm really sorry to hear that ... I really am , I hope she beats it .
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