A Rapper's Wife Opens Up About Setting Her Career Aside to Fight Breast Cancer

When rapper Erica McClain began dating Hot Boys rapper Turk during her 20s, the relationship was off to a promising start. Two months in, however, Turk was arrested for his involvement in a police shootout at his home and went on to spend the next eight years, eight months and 16 days behind bars. Erica remained by his side throughout.

Upon Turk's release, the couple immediately married. The next month, Erica got pregnant. She gave birth to twins and then, shortly thereafter, received a devastating diagnosis: breast cancer. Turk stayed by her side during chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy.

Reflecting on it all, Erica realizes that she hasn't fully focused on her personal goals since Turk was incarcerated in 2004. "I'm just, like, taken from one thing to the next," she says. "You get to a point to where you lose yourself."

The discussion prompts Iyanla to consider an important question: Is this relationship built on a foundation of love or trauma?

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