Jill Janus From Huntress Discusses Mental Illness, Cancer

Huntress is gearing up to release "Static" on September 25th via Napalm Records, and in a new interview with Revolver, vocalist Jill Janus reveals her lifelong struggle with Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Earlier this year, she was also diagnosed with Stage 1 uterine cancer in the midst of recording the new album. Janus is now cancer-free due to a hysterectomy performed two weeks ago.

In an excerpt from the interview, she explains why she's been hospitalized this year: "Once a Huntress album is done, it's almost like I slip into a postpartum depression. Being bipolar and schizophrenic, I have to be hospitalized so I don't hurt myself or anyone else around me. It can be very dangerous."

She also explains sensing there was something wrong before being diagnosed with cancer: "During the process of writing and recording our third album, I began to feel like something bad was growing within me...I had a procedure, and my doctor found early stage cancer in my uterus."

Janus is now recovering from a successful surgery at home, commenting, "I was encouraged by my bandmates to take my struggle and weave it into songs on the new album. When I formed Huntress, I was concerned with the stigma surrounding mental illness, especially for women in the music industry. But I've accomplished so much in just a few years. Writing one record a year, touring relentlessly and attempting to maintain my sanity has been, at times, very painful for myself and those close to me. Yet I've proven anything is possible if you truly believe in yourself. Speaking out about my mental illness and cancer diagnosis has given me a chance to encourage others to live for their purpose and not be held back by their illness. The vultures can wait."

Read the full article at Revolvermag.com.