On January 14th, LeAnn Rimes shared a message on Instagram about a personal experience that recently affected her life. LeAnn wrote that she’d undergone minor surgery to remove precancerous cervical cells.
RELATED: Toby Keith Gives Health Update Amid Cancer Battle
She wanted to use her personal experience to remind her fans and followers to be mindful of their health and care for their bodies. LeAnn thinks that her situation is an important reminder to get annual screenings. These screenings can indicate changes in the body, including the very early stages of diseases like cancer. As LeAnn explained on social media, she got her annual gynecological screening several months ago, and that screening came back with an abnormal result.
LeAnn Underwent a LEEP Procedure
LeAnn also shared some personal information about her general health, writing, in part, “I’ve had abnormal paps since I was 17.” Ever since then, LeAnn admitted that she’s had regular screenings done so her doctors could keep an eye on any cellular changes that could be taking place. LeAnn was born in August 1982. She’s currently 41 years old.
She wrote on Instagram that her latest abnormal screenings indicated that LeAnn had high-grade cervical dysplasia. That’s the clinical term for precancerous cells. So LeAnn consulted with her doctor, and together, they decided that a “LEEP procedure” was the right course of action.
RELATED: Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell Dead At 29 Following Cancer Battle
Taste of Country also reported details of LeAnn’s surgery to remove precancerous cells. Their article explained what a LEEP procedure is, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, also known as the ACOG. The ACOG defines LEEP as a “Loop Electrosurgical Excision” procedure. It uses a small wire loop, attached to an electrical current, to remove precancerous cells from the body.
It’s generally an outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic. In LeAnn’s case, she did elect to be placed under general anesthesia for her minor surgery. LeAnn was honest on social media about why she preferred to be under general anesthetic. Her Instagram message revealed, “I’ve had enough trauma in my life already, so I prefer to be out and comfortable.” LeAnn also wrote, “That, my friends, is advocating for your overall mental wellness and comfort.” She stated, “I HIGHLY recommend it!”
January Is a Difficult Month for LeAnn
LeAnn went through a deep personal loss in the past year. Her stepfather, Ted, passed away, and LeAnn mourned his loss on social media. She wrote, “Goodbye, Ted. rest well.” LeAnn said that her late stepfather’s “joy and childlike heart” will be ingrained in her own heart forever. LeAnn also wrote that she won the lottery when it came to stepdads, and she told Ted that she would love him forever.
She also described some other health challenges she’s faced in previous years, including various dental surgeries, and the recovery from severe bleeding on her vocal cords. LeAnn said these events were all depressing, and they all occurred around January.
LeAnn’s Instagram followers praised her for her honesty and health advocacy. One follower commented that they just went through the same type of precancerous cell removal a few years ago. They wrote, “Sending you love, light, and prayers for strength and healing. I’ve loved you since I was 10, and I’ll always love you and be rooting for you.” The follower also thanked LeAnn for her vulnerability. They finished their comment by telling LeAnn, “You are a force to be reckoned with, so those cells picked the wrong place to be.”
LeAnn Stressed the Importance of Yearly Screenings
LeAnn has been public with various mental health challenges, too, including depression and anxiety. Another physical issue she’s dealt with is psoriasis, and LeAnn said that her psoriasis has been a lifelong struggle. LeAnn’s statement about the importance of annual screenings and wellness checks was the focal point of her recent Instagram message.
LeAnn addressed her female and male followers on social media, writing, “So, ladies, please don’t put off getting your annual pap.” Then LeAnn wrote, in part, “My men, too…make sure you get your annual physical.” Although LeAnn also joked that men don’t need the same gynecological screening as ladies do, she included a helpful warning about early-stage cervical cancers. She explained that it doesn’t usually involve any symptoms. LeAnn wrote, “So annual screenings and early detection can be lifesaving.” She wants to take what she calls the “eww factor” out of talking about a woman’s body.
She believes that sharing her message on social media and having conversations about women’s wellness can put the power back in our hands, and we will “be able to take the best care of our bodies that we can.”
RELATED: Blake Shelton Slammed For NYE Performance
LeAnn recently completed a Christmas holiday tour, which is an annual event that’s been very successful. With a successful surgery completed, LeAnn is looking forward to 2024. She indicated that in her Instagram message, and this year, LeAnn wrote that she feels “joyful and easeful.”
