Singer Melissa Etheridge says her body is free of cancer after a malignant tumour was found in her breast nine months ago.

"I stand before you a totally healthy person," the 44-year-old singer told the syndicated TV show "Extra."

In an interview that aired Wednesday on the entertainment show, Etheridge also said she is planning to have a baby with her partner, actress Tammy Lynn Michaels.

The baby plans are "already in the works," Etheridge said.

The baby which would be Michael's first and Etheridge's third (she has two daughters conceived through artificial insemination with rocker legend David Crosby and borne to her ex-partner Julie Cypher) would also be conceived through artificial insemination.

However, Etheridge's spokesman said the couple were only thinking about having a baby" and that "neither one is pregnant."

The Kansas-born singer will release a greatest hits collection "The Road Less Traveled" in October.