“It was hell,” says Sandra. The pop singer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. Now she is talking about her illness.

Singer Sandra has spoken publicly for the first time about her battle with breast cancer. “It was hell, but everything is fine,” said the 80s icon (“Maria Magdalena”) shortly before a concert in Olomouc, Czech Republic, at an online press conference.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2017. ‘But I’ve got it all behind me now. The five years are up. I am healthy again.” She kept her illness secret because she didn’t want to make her fans sad. Now she’s looking forward to performing again. “I can barely wait for it.”

There are no new songs yet. “We’re about to do something. But that will probably take another year or two.” Sandra turned 60 on Wednesday (May 18).