Tony Braxton

In the latest issue of Us Weekly, the singer, 41, reveals she had a tumor removed from her breast a week earlier. And that’s why Toni Braxton was noticeably absent from the dances at the Nov. 25 Dancing With the Stars finale.

“I was worried about what they would find,” she tells. “But it was benign.”

Doctors discovered the lump during a routine checkup in August but weren’t alarmed. In fact, they told the mother of two — sons are Denim, 7, and Diezel, 5 (by musician-husband Keri Lewis) — she could continue filming DWTS.

Once she was eliminated with partner Alex Mazo on Oct. 20, though, she scheduled her follow-up. By that time, doctors found the lump “was definitely still there and bigger,” she says.

That’s when they decided to remove it.

“Getting the boot on the show was actually a blessing in disguise for me, We have family history. My grandmother on my dad’s side died of breast cancer, and I have aunts on both sides that have breast cancer.”

The singer is still recovering but remains upbeat.

“I was very fortunate, “Cancer knows no race, no creed, no color.” she said