Ananda Lewis, a staple of MTV’s golden era, died this week after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was 52. In the years leading up to her death, the beloved TV personality stirred controversy by opting for alternative treatments instead of a doctor-recommended double mastectomy — a decision she stood by until the end,

Lewis' family did not share a cause of death, but the TV personality had been candid about her breast cancer diagnosis and progression.