By Kelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Eighties pop star Taylor Dayne revealed to “Good Morning America” this week that she was diagnosed with colon cancer in July following a routine colonoscopy.
“Life is precious,” the 60-year-old Grammy-nominated singer told the program, noting that her world went “dark” at the word cancer, but she has persevered.
“He never even said the stage,” Dayne said of her doctor, who assured her that they caught the malignancy early.
Colon cancer is the third-highest leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, but is highly treatable – and curable – if detected early through a colonoscopy, according to the American Cancer Society.
The “Tell It to Your Heart” and “Love Will Lead You Back” singer also confirmed to GMA that she had surgery to remove 10 inches of her colon – and was declared cancer free immediately following the procedure – only weeks after being diagnosed.
Although she was spared chemotherapy or radiation treatments, Dayne said a “complication” during recovery landed her back in the hospital, People magazine reported.
“I ended up staying in the hospital for about 15 days, 20 days,” she told GMA, adding, “There’s no guarantees when they open you up, what’s going to happen. That’s really the truth.”
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults 45 and older get regular colon cancer screenings, either stool analyses or colonoscopies. The organization also urges people with symptoms of colon cancer — such as a change in bowel movements, like increased diarrhea; rectal bleeding; dark stools; unexpected weight loss; cramping and excess fatigue — to see a doctor immediately.
Taylor Dayne through the years Singer Taylor Dayne performs on stage at Route 66 Legends Theater on Aug.13, 2005, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Taylor Dayne had 7 back-to-back Top-10 singles in the 1980's and was recently featured in the series "Remaking: Taylor Dayne" on VH-1. (Photo by Steve Snowden/Getty Images) (Steve Snowden/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years UNITED STATES - JUNE 01: Olivia Newton-John, Thomas Dolby and Taylor Dane get together at United Nations, where they performed at preview for an international fund-raising effort called "Spirit of the Forest" a type of "We are the World" to save tropical rain forests. (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) (New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Taylor Dayne Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years OAKLAND, CA - JULY 17: American pop vocalist, songwriter, dance artist Taylor Dayne performs a song before a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Oakland Athletics at the O.co Coliseum July 17, 2011 in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the game 9-1. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN - JUNE 19: Taylor Dayne performs at the 4th Annual Jazz Spectacular at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre on June 19, 2022 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images) (Scott Legato/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years Taylor Dayne performs at Club USA, New York, New York, July 20, 1993. (Photo by Steve Eichner/Getty Images) (Steve Eichner/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Singer Taylor Dayne (L) and her Son Levi Dayne (R) attend the Big Game Kick-Off event hosted by Merging Vets and Players at Academy LA on February 09, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images) (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 30: Taylor Dayne performs onstage at the Paradise Artists Party during Day 4 of the IEBA 2014 Conference on September 30, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA) (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA)
Taylor Dayne through the years Taylor Dayne performs at Club USA, New York, New York, July 20, 1993. (Photo by Steve Eichner/Getty Images) (Steve Eichner/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 23: Taylor Dayne performing onstage during Project Angel Food's Lead with Love 3 - a Fundraising Special on KTLA on July 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Project Angel Food) (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)
Taylor Dayne through the years PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Taylor Dayne attends The Dinah's 31st Anniversary at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs on September 23, 2022 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Getty Images) (David Crotty/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Singer Taylor Dayne attends the premiere of Apple Music's "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives" at Pacific Design Center on September 26, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic) (Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 23: (L-R) Taylor Dayne and Richard Ayoub attend Project Angel Food's Lead with Love 3 - a Fundraising Special on KTLA on July 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Project Angel Food) (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)
Taylor Dayne through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Taylor Dayne visits "Sway in The Morning" on "Shade45" with host Sway Calloway at SiriusXM Studios on February 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) (www.RoyRochlin.com/Getty Images)
Taylor Dayne through the years Taylor Dayne in November 1989 in Dortmund. (Photo by Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images) (picture alliance/picture alliance via Getty Image)