Q: You once gave advice on staying healthy saying, "nutrition, nutrition." Why?
A: It's not about eating blandly or unimaginatively, but being aware of the food going into your body—where it comes from, what's been done to it. I adopted a healthier diet. I take at least a tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar a day. It's an old wives' tale, but it really is one of the best things you can put in your mouth. I also eat a salad every day. At this point, I really don't want to eat leafy greens, but I know I need to put this stuff in my body to feel good. I stopped eating refined sugar—once you get past the cravings, you can leave it behind. Now, if I popped a candy into my mouth the rush would be so intense, I'd have to sit down.

Q: What role did music play in your recovery?
A: I changed, so my music changed. Right after I finished chemo I got up in front of the world and sang a tribute to Janis Joplin at the Grammy's. That musical experience changed my life. I found the energy to get up and say, this is what I'm supposed to do, I'm a rock 'n' roll artist, and here I am, singing. That gave me courage.

Q: You took to the stage bald and with no eyebrows. That's powerful.
A: It was funny. My surgeon said 'you'll lose your hair, so get a wig.' But I've never been the type to not be who I am, to not be truthful. I've always been upfront. So I said, why should I hide my truth? I had cancer. I had chemotherapy. I lost my hair. There's no shame in that.

Q: You believe in the power of positive thinking. Did this help you heal?
A: I was lying there in chemo. I couldn't move because it was painful. I couldn't listen to anything. I couldn't have any lights on. After weeks and weeks, I ran out of things to think about. That's when the chatter in my mind stopped and I realized that my body didn't define me. It was what was inside and around it, this amazing spirit, this soul, that did. When you really comprehend that, everything starts to make sense. Our society, where we are right now, our minds are junkyards. We watch TV and sit on the computer all day and barely have an original thought. We need to get back to that clarity. Our thoughts are all-powerful.

Photo shot at Hard Rock International's Pinktober event at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood.