Tulisa Quits Smoking After Best Friend’s Cancer Battle Sparks Health Wake-Up

TULISA has revealed her best friend Michelle McKenna’s breast cancer diagnosis pushed her into a major health reset — and she has now quit smoking after what she called a brutal few weeks.

The singer said the shock of seeing her “soul mate” face cancer made checking her own health feel urgent.

Posting on Instagram, Tulisa said 2025 brought “emotional and personal growth” after a chaotic year.

She praised Michelle as an “absolute warrior” and said her friend’s strength through treatment had been inspiring.

She also shared a direct message to fans to check their breasts, saying Michelle’s bravery should be a wake-up call. Tulisa made clear that family now sits at the centre of everything.

The former N-Dubz star said she is now six weeks off cigarettes and one month nicotine-free, though she is still using a zero-nicotine vape while the withdrawal symptoms ease. She admitted quitting hit her hard and said she “cried like a baby” in the early weeks.

Tulisa said she has leaned on exercise and self-care to get through it. She described herself as feeling stronger by the day after giving herself “grace” during the process.

The post lands after Tulisa opened up about a seven-day ayahuasca retreat in Peru, where she took part in three ceremonies.

She said the experience left her crying for hours, physically exhausted and repeatedly vomiting as she tried to process what she described as old trauma and anxiety.

She insisted the retreat was serious, not recreational, and said she spent months preparing through abstinence, meditation and diet. Tulisa said the experience helped her feel more grounded, calm and sure of herself.

Taken together, the message was blunt: a frightening cancer diagnosis close to home has forced Tulisa to look hard at her own life — and she is making changes now.