Broadway star Valisia LeKae fights back from ovarian cancer

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Broadway is celebrating the Tony Awards nominations, but it has another reason to cheer: One of its own is cancer-free.

Valisia LeKae, who earned a Tony nomination playing Diana Ross in the hit show “Motown the Musical,” took to Twitter on Tuesday to say that she has beaten ovarian cancer. She had been diagnosed late last year and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy.

She confirmed the good news later Tuesday.

LeKae was stunned by the diagnosis after undergoing surgery to remove what was believed to be a benign ovarian cyst in November. Ovarian cancer is more common among white, post-menopausal women. LeKae, who is black, was diagnosed at age 34 and says she has no family history of the disease.