Soul singer Candi Staton has shared that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will begin treatment this week.

The singer said she discovered a lump on the first day of rehearsals for her tour, and the experience has sent her through “all of the emotions”.

In a statement the singer said after find out her diagnoses she felt a lot of emotions.

“I decided to keep it to myself and do some soul searching.

“I went through all of the emotions – denial, poor me and anger.” Staton said.

The singer found the lump when she was performing a self-examination and said she wanted to use her diagnosis to encourage other women, including older women, to check often and have regular mammograms.

The singer is best known for her 1970’s forays into disco music, she recorded the disco classic Young Hearts Run Free, and in the 1980’s she was the first to record the timeless You’ve Got the Love.  

Earlier this year the singer released her 29th album Unstoppable.  Over her career Staton has tackled everything from disco to soul, gospel and even alt. country and EDM.

OIP Staff