Actress Lucy Liu has shared a deeply personal health scare from the 1990s that reshaped how she approaches medical decisions.
In an interview with People magazine, the 57-year-old recalled discovering a lump in her breast at a time when access to information was limited.
She said she sought medical advice and was told by a doctor, after a brief examination, that the lump was cancerous without further tests such as a mammogram.
Trusting the diagnosis, she proceeded with surgery to remove the lump.
She later found out the lump was benign.
Looking back, Liu described the experience as a turning point that taught her the importance of advocating for her own health.
She said she did not pursue a second opinion despite friends urging her to do so, believing the doctor “knows what they're talking about”.
Now, she is using her platform to encourage greater awareness of early detection and self-advocacy, especially among women.
Her message is to not let fear, busyness or trust prevent asking questions or seeking further checks.
“Because, oftentimes, it's caught too late, and at that point, you're basically scrambling to figure out what your resources are,” she said.
“I want this to be part of their regular regimen. If you can get up every single day and work out, this is something you do just once or twice a year for yourself, and it is really critical.”
