On Monday, actress and comedian Kathy Griffin revealed that she was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer.
She posted on her social media to let her fans in on her health.
“I’ve got to tell you guys something,” she wrote in a note. “I have cancer. I’m about to go into surgery to have half of my left lung removed. Yes, I have lung cancer even though I’ve never smoked!”
She also shared that her doctors are “very optimistic” about her condition, as the cancer is only stage one and contained to her left lung. “Hopefully no chemo or radiation after this and I should have normal function with my breathing,” she continued. “I should be up and running around as usual in a month or less.”
After her surgery, Griffin appeared in a pre-taped interview on ABC’s “Nightline” to discuss her struggle with cancer and her battle with drugs and addiction.
Some may remember Griffin’s 2017 Trump scandal, wherein she was pictured holding a bloody mask bearing Trump’s face. The photo stirred up intense criticism online and in the media, eventually causing Griffin to lose most of her gigs and endorsement deals.
The ordeal, according to the 60-year-old, took a heavy toll on her mental health; she soon became addicted to painkillers and attempted to take her own life.
“I thought, ‘Well, I don’t even drink … Big deal, I take a couple pills now and again, who doesn’t?’” she detailed. “The irony is not lost on me that, a little over a year ago, all I wanted to do was die. And now, all I wanna do is live.”
In July 2017, Griffin honored her sister Joyce by shaving her head. Her sister, who was fighting against cancer, died later in September. Griffin’s brother, Gary, also lost his battle to cancer in 2014.
