Toni Braxton Says She Had Benign Tumor Removed

First Published: December 10, 2008 10:50 AM EST Credit: Access Hollywood

Caption Toni Braxton

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Toni Braxton had a good reason for not dancing on the finale of “Dancing With the Stars” last month: The 41-year-old singer says she had a benign tumor removed from her breast the week before.

Braxton says she knew about the tumor before she appeared on the ABC show. She scheduled the surgery after being eliminated from the competition on Oct. 20.

She tells Us Weekly magazine in its issue out Friday: “Getting the boot on the show was actually a blessing in disguise for me. My grandmother on my dad’s side died of breast cancer, and I have aunts on both sides that have breast cancer.”

Though Braxton is still recovering, she is scheduled to appear on the “Dancing With the Stars” tour, which begins Dec. 17 in San Diego.

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