90s R’n’B singer Shanice has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer this year after skipping mammograms for eight years.

The I Love Your Smile hitmaker, 51, first revealed her stage one cancer diagnosis in September, and detailed how she had undergone a double mastectomy where a  1cm centimeter tumor was found in her breast.

Appearing on Good Morning America this week, the star said doctors first suspected she had a tumor in her breast eight years ago – it was later found to be a cyst, but the fear of mammograms stopped her getting the checks.

Expressing her regret over the decision she said: ‘If I would have gone sooner, I could have caught it at stage zero.

‘Put that fear aside. If you get checked early, you can beat this thing. It’s not a death sentence. If you can get there early, you’ll live.’

90s r’n’b singer Shanice has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer this year after skipping mammograms for eight year

The popstar, 51, is best known for her 1991 hit I Love Your Smile

She underwent screening in March after finding a lump in her breast – with doctors believing initially she had stage zero ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a type of breast cancer that affects the milk ducts.

She had a double mastectomy in May – during which doctors found the tumor in her chest.

She said: ‘When I had my surgery and they told me I had cancer, I literally lost my smile. But I wanted to come on the show to encourage women that you have to keep smiling. I got my smile back.’

In September Shanice shared a post from hospital announcing her diagnosis, writing: ‘Happy Sunday everyone… God is a healer.. So 3 months I had a double mastectomy.. I had a stage one one centimeter tumor in my breast.. Thank God I caught it early… I wasn’t ready to talk about it then but I’m strong enough to talk about it now..

‘Please everyone get checked.. Thank you @yahsherbalistjharrellsims for helping me with your herbs @drleehealthtalk thank you for helping me get through this journey.. Thank you to all my prayer warriors for keeping me lifted up in prayer.. Thank you @phildfish for sharing your moms testimony..

‘Thank you to my friends and family for your support and prayers.. Thank you @flexaforeal for helping me get through the hardest time of my life..

‘You helped me every day with my drains and cooked all my meals.. I love you.. I am healed and restored in Jesus name.. Thank you @therealdrjackie for my gift basket… @frostchild Thank you for coming with me to my doctors appointment.. I’m believing God for your healing as well… @toyialjackson @donyelledenise8 I’m believing God for your healing.. I love you all..’

She added: ‘I am healed and restored in Jesus name.’

The I Love Your Smile hitmaker, 51, first revealed her stage one cancer diagnosis in September, and detailed how she had undergone a double mastectomy where a 1cm centimeter tumor was found in her breast

Appearing on Good Morning America this week, the star said doctors first suspected she had a tumor in her breast eight years ago – it was later found to be a cyst, but the fear of mammograms stopped her getting the checks

Shanice broke through onto the music scene in 1987, releasing her first album Discovery at the age of 14.

The star, whose full name is Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox, was popular with fans and garnered two top 10 R&B hits from the album as a result.

Shanice achieved further success with the songs Silent Prayer, Saving Forever for You and When I Close My Eyes after signing with Motown records in 1991.

The star was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but later moved to LA with her mother Crystal and Aunt Penni.

They made the move as her mother and aunt were hoping to pursue music careers there.

But Shanice was the one who actually made the move into singing and pop music, encouraged by her relatives.

When she was eight, she was in a KFC advert with Ella Fitzgerald, later going on to appear on Star Search at the age of 11.

The star has been married to actor and comedian Flex Alexander for 24 years- after they tied the knot in February 2000

The singer’s voice has been used on several film soundtracks including Pocahontas and The Meteor Man.

She also did backing vocals for Toni Braxton on her tune Un-Break My Heart.

The star has been married to actor and comedian Flex Alexander for 24 years- after they tied the knot in February 2000.

They are parents to Imani Knox, 23, and Elijah Alexander Knox, 20.