Normani and her mother, Andrea Hamilton, are celebrating MORE life after Mama Kordei found out she’s cancer free again following two separate breast cancer diagnoses! Celebrate with the mother-daughter duo inside…
Finding out your mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer once is hard enough, but imagine going through it TWICE!
Singer Normani has watched her mother, Andrea Hamilton, fight through two separate breast cancer diagnoses. At the age of five, the former Fifth Harmony singer remembers seeing her mother check her breasts and finding lumps herself. After being 19 years cancer-free, Normani watched her mother perform the same self-exam only to find another lump in 2020.
In a new ELLE article, the “Motivation” singer shared how her mother’s second diagnosis came as she was working on her debut album and she didn’t envision ever completing it.
”I was in Los Angeles when I found out my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer again. My family was back in Houston. Three weeks earlier, when I was visiting my mom at home, she’d fallen into my arms expressing how scared she was. She had a gut feeling about the results. I felt incredibly helpless because I wasn’t able to cure her. I could not change the circumstances. I also had to cope alone, thousands of miles away from my family. My mother and I couldn’t hold each other the way we both needed to. That day was my worst nightmare.”
”At the same time, I was working on my debut album, and completing it seemed very unrealistic. Aside from my mom, I wasn’t concerned about anything, including music. It was such a challenge to stay in my groove creatively while also allowing myself to feel everything that I needed to with my mom.”
Fans got restless waiting for Normani’s debut album—not knowing she was dealing with her mother fighting cancer for a second time.
The young singer stayed by her mother’s side, making sure to implement normalcy for her.
“When a close relative has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you have to honor both experiences: the one who is enduring and the one who is doing their best to support. My mom is incredibly independent and self-sufficient, so seeing her break down and not be able to function was really painful. Implementing normalcy and taking her out of reality was important. She didn’t want to be coddled or feel like a burden.”
Normani’s mother’s diagnosis taught her that “early detection and not taking anything for granted are so important.”
The “Wild Side” singer, who serves as an American Cancer Society ambassador, encouraged people who have family members with cancer to get genetic testing.
”I watched my mother find her own lumps both times she had breast cancer,” the singer shared. “She taught me the importance of looking out for changes in your breasts and educated me on what mammograms were at an early age. I also encourage anyone who has a family member with cancer to see that your family talks to a doctor about genetic testing. We have taken these measures as a family. Knowledge is power, so whatever you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask.”
Normani hopes sharing her family’s experience will help raise awareness about the importance of knowing your body and speaking up for the care you need.
On Twitter…
If it wasn’t for her sacrifice, I’m not sure how I would have made it through! Her strength and the strength of my husband, mother and most of GOD is what carried me through It’s been a battle! People don’t realize that cancer is a never ending fight!!! I have been blessed https://t.co/9KJXLD8hmP
— Andrea Hamilton (@Andiluv) October 10, 2022
Normani’s mother, Andrea, responded to a fan who felt like Normani was forced to answer questions about her delayed debut album.
“I don’t like that idea,” the fan tweeted. “Normani shouldn’t have to sit in an interview be ask “Why did it take you 5yrs to Debut” her response to discuss her Mother Cancer battle we’ve known abt it suspect why her Career has been on pause. I don’t think we need details. Glad she beat it once more.”
”If it wasn’t for her sacrifice, I’m not sure how I would have made it through!,” Normani’s mother said. “Her strength and the strength of my husband, mother and most of GOD is what carried me through .It’s been a battle! People don’t realize that cancer is a never ending fight!!! I have been blessed.”
Aww! We’re SO glad Mama Kordei beat cancer twice! Blessings on Blessings!
Photo: Normani’s IG/ Andrea’s Twitter
