Stephanie Benson has revealed that cancer has affected several members of her family, including her mother, grandmother and aunt, all of whom she said died at the age of 48.
The Ghanaian singer said the family history was already known to her when she was diagnosed with cancer herself at the same age.
“My mother died at 48 from cancer. My great grandmother died at 48 of cancer. My aunt died at 48 of cancer. All of them like 48 years old. And I got mine at 48 years old,” Benson said on Changes on Joy News.
Benson said the pattern made her diagnosis particularly striking, although she does not consider herself superstitious.
“I’m not one of those superstitious kind of people. I don’t believe in all that crap about whatever,” she said.
“But this one is a bit suspect.”
She explained that she had undergone genetic testing after discovering her cancer risk, but said her result showed she had been under a 25% chance of developing cancer.
“I was under 25% chance of getting cancer, but I got it anyway,” she said.
Benson said several of her siblings have not developed cancer, while her sister Linda is currently battling the disease.
She also said the experience influenced how seriously she takes the health of her children.
“My kids test every year, of course. I’ve taught them how to check themselves after their periods and whatnot,” she said.
Benson said her own diagnosis has also made her grateful that the disease affected her rather than one of her sisters, whom she considers less physically prepared for the health challenges she went through.
