Donna Lewis Says ‘Music Became My Therapy’ During Cancer (Exclusive) [Video]

Back in 2021, Donna Lewis had every intention of unabashedly celebrating the 25th anniversary of her mega-hit “I Love You Always Forever.” But instead, the legendary songwriter and artist found herself fighting breast cancer.

“I did not know there was anything wrong,” Lewis, 64, tells PEOPLE in a recent interview from her home in New York. “I felt fine. I felt no lumps. I felt nothing. It was a shock.”

Not only was it a shock, but Lewis says that it was a diagnosis that left her with a feeling of guilt. “I always used to get my mammogram on a regular basis, and I missed my mammogram during COVID,” explains the iconic singer. “Of course, when I did go for my mammogram, there was something. And that word ‘cancer’ is just so frightening when you first hear it.”

From there, there were ultrasounds and biopsies that ultimately determined that Lewis had stage 2A HER2+ breast …