Cornelius: Positive attitude aided cancer fight
Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
HANNIBAL, MO. (AP) -- Country music singer Helen Cornelius believes a positive attitude helped her make a
quick recover from breast cancer.
The 66-year-old Cornelius grew up on a farm near Hannibal, Mo.
She spoke during an appearance Monday at the Hannibal Country Club, where she served as honorary
chairwoman of the American Cancer Society's Pink Ribbon Golf Tournament.
Cornelius was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She says she cried for a week, then decided, "I
have cancer, it doesn't have me."
Cornelius had surgery and two weeks of radiation, then was back on the road within five weeks.
Cornelius and duet partner Jim Ed Brown had a string of top-10 country hits in the 1970s and 1980s,
including the No. 1 hit "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You" in 1976.