ruth901
Star remembers dark timesLucy Liu was wrongly diagnosed with cancer and had surgery
Hollywood, 2026. Lucy Liu beams. That wasn't the case after the diagnosis.
picture alliance / Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Lucy Liu usually appears as a tough and always radiant actress. That wasn't always the case. As she reveals in an interview, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 90s – and had surgery. However, this was not necessary, as it later turned out.
In the 1990s, Lucy Liu received the shock diagnosis of cancer. After feeling a lump in her breast, the actress even had surgery. But it later turned out: the diagnosis was wrong. In an interview with People magazine, Liu says she initially didn't think much about the situation – even though it was disturbing. “It was scary because there was a lot less information back then. We didn't have the internet,” she remembers.
According to Liu, her doctor simply palpated the lump and immediately classified it as breast cancer – without any further tests such as ultrasound or mammography. She did not doubt his statement at the time because she trusted the medical expertise. Without seeking a second opinion, the actress quickly decided to undergo surgery to remove the lump.
Only later did it turn out that the findings were benign. Looking back, Liu describes this experience as a turning point: “I think that was the moment when I began to understand how important it is to stand up for yourself.” At the time, she didn't question the diagnosis. Even when a friend advised her to get a second opinion, she thought: “What's the point? The doctor already knows what he's talking about.”
Today she sees it differently. Liu emphasizes how crucial it is to actively participate in medical decisions and obtain information. Despite her experience with a misdiagnosis, the 57-year-old emphasizes that regular screenings can be crucial. Diseases are often discovered too late when treatment options are already limited. Prevention, on the other hand, can save lives.
Today she looks back on her experience without regret. Instead, she sees it as an important lesson: “You can't change the past. But you can learn from it and make better decisions for yourself and others.”
Sources used: as/spot
