Jessie J gave an emotional speech about her recent cancer battle as she took to the stage at the Music Industry Trust Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel on Monday.
The singer, 37, underwent a mastectomy in June as part of her treatment for breast cancer, which was caught early, but later informed fans she would need a further operation.
Now, Jessie shared with the star-studded crowd how her ‘whole world was changed this year’ after the diagnosis.
She said: ‘I know I joke a lot, I love to laugh, but in all seriousness, how beautiful is it that we make music?
‘And we share it with the world and each and every one of us plays a part in making that wheel keep turning in a world that’s ever changing.
‘All of us here are going through stuff in life that we have to carry to work and leave at home or take to work.
Jessie J gave an emotional speech about her recent cancer battle as she took to the stage at the Music Industry Trust Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel on Monday
The singer, 37, underwent a mastectomy in June as part of her treatment for breast cancer, which was caught early, but later informed fans she would need a further operation
‘This year has changed my whole world. My perspective, what battles I’m going to pick, when death comes knocking at your door, and you kind of have to answer and f***ing kick it away, it just changes everything.’
During the show, Jessie looked sensational in a white glamorous white dress which boasted a long sheer skirt.
The Bang Bang hitmaker was in good spirits as she performed her hits following Rita Ora’s set during the bash.
Last week, Jessie was left ‘frustrated’ after doctors postponed her second cancer surgery despite the singer cancelling her tour to go under the knife.
Taking to Instagram, Jessie apologised to fans for needlessly scrapping her shows, but admitted she was now trying to ‘make the best’ of a bad situation.
In the clip she said: ‘Some of you may know, some of you may not know, I was supposed to have a second breast surgery two weeks ago,’ she told fans.
‘So a week before my surgery I went to my surgeon and we discussed my surgery and it felt a little more complex than he was anticipating and referred me to a different surgeon who I then saw, had a meeting with who said: “I think this can wait a little while”.
‘Obviously I’d already cancelled my tour so I was obviously frustrated but again it’s out of my control and two different surgeons had two different opinions.’
Now, Jessie shared with the star-studded crowd how her ‘whole world was changed this year’ after the diagnosis
She said: ‘All of us here are going through stuff in life that we have to carry to work and leave at home or take to work’
‘This year has changed my whole world. My perspective, what battles I’m going to pick, when death comes knocking at your door, you kind of have to answer and f***ing kick it away, it just changes everything’
During the show, Jessie looked sensational in a white glamorous white dress which boasted a long sheer skirt
Jessie said that following the news immediately went into ‘mum mode’ and got to organising and revealed there would be new dates for her US tour.
Last month Jessie returned to the stage on Saturday for her first live performance following her cancer battle.
She opened her set at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in Chelmsford, Essex to a loud applause from fans.
Appearing emotional on stage, she told the packed crowd: ‘Some of you may know, some of you may not know, but I had breast cancer surgery 11 weeks ago today.
‘And the last show I did, I had no idea what was gonna happen, and I’m still very much in the recovery process, but I’m definitely not ready for Babins.
‘I mean, I am, but my doctors are like “calm down, girl”. Do you know what I mean, you can take the girl out of Essex, put her back in to Essex.
‘But I’m just so grateful to be here, you have no idea how grateful I am to see so many of you singing along after all these years.
‘It truly feels like I’m a little kid. Still doing what I love.’
She added: ‘And another special thing that’s happening today is that my son is seeing me sing on stage for the first time.’
Sky, who is two years old, could be seen backstage wearing earmuffs as he waved at his mum on stage.
It comes a week after Jessie was left ‘frustrated’ after doctors postponed her second cancer surgery despite the singer cancelling her tour to go under the knife
Jessie then moved onto her second song, her new track Living My Best Life, which she revealed was special to her.
She explained: “Some of you may know it, some of you may not know it, but what this song’s about, I was diagnosed literally two weeks before this song was released, and everyone said, “let’s stop, let’s just put everything on hold” and I said, “that’s not what life’s about”.’
The mum-of-one continued: ‘Life is about standing in the storm but holding up your umbrella and just keep moving forward.
‘And music, I don’t know about you guys, but for me, music is a healer. Music is the thing that keeps me wanting to wake up in the morning and just makes me excited about life.
‘And I’m grateful that I can make music that can give other people something that they might need on a hard day or a good day.
‘So this song is called Living My Best Life, and that is what I’m doing every single damn day.
‘Cause we never know when our last day will be, so soak this up, hug the people you love hard.’
