Actor Lucy Liu is sharing how a misdiagnosis at 22 led to unnecessary breast cancer surgery.
Actor Lucy Liu is sharing how a misdiagnosis at 22 led to unnecessary breast cancer surgery. Now she’s working to raise awareness about the importance of cancer screenings and “getting a second opinion.”
on PinterestLucy Liu at the TIME 2026 Women of the Year Gala held at The West Hollywood EDITION on March 10, 2026, in West Hollywood, California. Image credit: Michael Buckner/Getty ImagesAward-winning actress Lucy Liu will always remember the year 1991. She was 22 years old and found a lump on her breast that led to unnecessary surgery; the lump turned out to be noncancerous.
“I learned a lot about myself, and I think that was the beginning of advocating for myself, with my health and everything else,” she told Healthline. “I think it was a real moment to, I guess, empower myself and recognize the weakness of…not asking questions…and relying solely on the doctor, and also not getting a second opinion.”
The Charlie’s Angels icon said at the time, she wasn’t aware of screening options like mammograms and ultrasounds.
“And so, I really didn’t do anything except go in, then go and schedule a surgery,” she said. “I have a lot more curiosity for my health now than I did then.”
Seeking out a second opinion is always critical when it comes to health, said Mikkael Sekeres, MD, chief of hematology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the and it can sometimes be quite complicated to diagnose,” he told Healthline.
In fact, the hospital where he works conducted a study comparing diagnoses of myelodysplastic syndromes, a type of leukemia, between community sites and centralized expert pathologists.
“We found that major misdiagnoses occurred 20% of the time, and even more frighteningly, 10% of patients received the wrong treatment for the wrong diagnosis,” Sekeres said. “You owe it to yourself to seek a second opinion on both your diagnosis and the right treatment for that cancer.”
Cancer screenings have become more accurate and less invasive
Liu is spreading the word about the importance of cancer screenings as part of Pfizer’s Every Breakthrough Matters campaign.
“Knowing that one out of three people are going to be diagnosed with cancer [during their lifetime], that should be initiative enough for us to advocate for ourselves…and motivate ourselves to get an annual checkup,” she said.
Data from 1975 to 2020 estimated that over 1.3 million cancer deaths in the U.S. were averted due to screening programs. The breakdown included:
- Mammograms reduce breast cancer deaths by 260,000 women
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing reduces prostate cancer deaths by 200,000 men
- Pap smear testing reduces cervical cancer deaths by 160,000 women
- Colonoscopies or other screening tests reduce colorectal cancer deaths by 740,000 people
“A screening test identifies cancer in an individual who does not yet have symptoms from the cancer, before you or your doctor even know it’s there,” said Sekeres.
He said screening tests have become more accurate and less invasive, and that doctors have become better at recommending when to undergo screening tests.
Mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopies, and regular skin checks are important aspects of maintaining your health and preventing
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