Watch: Singer Nivea Shares Cancer Diagnosis at 44
Nivea is getting candid about her cancer journey.
The “Don’t Mess With My Man” singer (born Nivea B. Hamilton) shared an update about her health after being diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, saying she’s “very grateful for life.”
“I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year,” Nivea told Brian Freeman during a July 21 episode of Cadillac Chronicles TV, adding, “I am so grateful to God. I’ve been going through treatment, and everything is going great so far. And I expect it to continue.”
Still, Nivea’s diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia—an uncommon variation of blood marrow cancer that progresses slowly and often impacts older adults, per the Mayo Clinic—initially took the performer by surprise.
“As incredibly surprised as I was to have the diagnosis confirmed after [two] (because the [first] one wasn’t successful), bone marrow biopsy procedures, I was profoundly thankful that it wasn’t Blast [blastoma],” Nivea told People in a July 23 statement, “which would have meant chemotherapy as part of the treatment.”
While doctors told the 44-year-old that the disease was neither hereditary nor lifestyle-induced—a revelation she called “a relief yet still a bit puzzling”—Nivea has continued to prioritize gratitude throughout this difficult chapter.
“It’s so cliché to say you don’t know the time nor the hour, but it’s true,” Nivea shared on Cadillac Chronicles TV. “It just helped me put a lot of things in perspective, and I live in gratitude religiously.”
That’s why the “Laundromat” musician is now devoting time to pursue her lifelong dreams.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
“I’m doing things I want to do. I’m definitely back into my music,” Nivea said. “I’m going to school for audio engineering. I’ve always wanted to learn how to engineer and mixing engineering in particular.”
And the “Complicated” artist—who shares daughter Navy Nash, 21, and 20-year-old twins London Nash and Christian Nash with ex The-Dream, as well as son Neal Carter, 16, with ex Lil Wayne—is “doing all the things” outside of music as well. As she put it, “Loving on my children and just being grateful and taking every opportunity that comes my way.”
For more stars who have spoken out about their health, read on…
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