Crow has cancer surgery

LOS ANGELES – Sheryl Crow underwent surgery for breast cancer earlier this week and the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent, her publicist reported Friday.

The singer-songwriter had the surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday and is recovering without complications, said Dave Tomberlin, her publicist.

“Her doctors think her prognosis is excellent,” Tomberlin said.

In a statement posted on her Web site, Crow said she would have to postpone a North American concert tour that was scheduled to begin in March. She said she hoped to reschedule the dates as soon as possible.

“Approximately one in seven American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and more than 2 million Americans are living with breast cancer today,” Crow said. “I am joining the more than 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.”

Crow called the surgery “minimally invasive” and said she will be undergoing radiation treatment as a precaution. She said she benefited from early detection, and urged other women to have themselves checked.

“More than 10 million Americans are living with cancer, and they demonstrate the ever-increasing possibility of living beyond cancer,” Crow said.

Crow’s former fiance, cycling champion Lance Armstrong, said in a statement released Friday night that he was devastated to learn the news.

“Once again I’m reminded of just how pervasive this illness is, as it has now touched someone I love deeply,” said Armstrong, who is a survivor of testicular cancer.

Crow, 44, and Armstrong, 34, announced earlier this month they were splitting up. It would have been the Grammy-winning rock star’s first marriage and the second for Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France cycling champion.

Crow has said her most recent album, the Grammy-nominated “Wildflower,” was inspired by their relationship.