Sheryl Crow, Early Detection, and What Breast Cancer Really Is

On screen

In 2006, at age 44, singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer that was found during a routine mammogram, before she had any symptoms. She has spoken publicly and often about the experience, describing herself as "a walking advertisement for early detection" and encouraging others to keep up with their screening. She went on to be treated and has continued her career and her advocacy in the years since.

The reality

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast. It can begin in one or both breasts. Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast grow without control, creating a mass called a tumor that may spread elsewhere in the body.

Breast cancer can form in different parts of the breast. Most breast cancers begin in glandular tissue — the milk ducts (called ductal cancers) or the lobules, the tiny glands that make milk (called lobular cancers). Cancers can also, less commonly, involve the fibrous and fatty tissue, the nipple, or blood and lymph vessels.

NCI notes that when abnormal cells stay within the ducts or lobules and have not spread to other breast tissue, it is called carcinoma in situ. Invasive cancers have spread into surrounding breast tissue and can reach nearby lymph nodes or other organs. Most breast cancers are invasive. Breast cancer mostly affects women aged 45 and older, but anyone with breasts can develop it; it is rare in children and in men.

What the story gets right — and what to remember

Sheryl Crow's story highlights something the NCI emphasizes: screening is done when a person has no symptoms, and finding breast cancer earlier can make it easier to treat. Her cancer was caught by a mammogram, not because she felt unwell.

That said, every person's situation is different. The type of breast cancer, its stage, and the right treatment vary from one person to the next. A public figure's experience is a helpful prompt to learn and to book that appointment — but it is not medical advice, and it does not predict what any individual will face.

Awareness, screening & prevention

The NCI says breast cancer screening looks for cancer in people who do not yet have symptoms, and that screening has been found to reduce deaths from breast cancer. Mammography — an x-ray picture of the breast — is the standard screening test for most women.

Other tools NCI describes include breast MRI (often added for women at high risk) and, in some cases, ultrasound. NCI notes that a clinical breast exam or a breast self-exam alone is not an adequate screening test. Screening also has potential harms, such as false-positive results, and NCI encourages people to understand both the benefits and the tradeoffs with their care team.

Turning a story into something useful

A story like Sheryl Crow's is most useful when it moves us to act calmly: to learn the basic facts, to ask a healthcare provider when and how we should be screened, and to share accurate information with the people we love. Free, trustworthy cancer education helps more people make informed choices — and helps take some of the fear out of a word like "cancer."

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Based on my age and personal risk, when should I start breast cancer screening, and how often?
• Which screening test is right for me — and do I have any factors, like dense breasts or family history, that change that?
• What are the benefits and possible harms of screening in my situation?
• If something is found, what would the next steps be?