Lee Hye-young Details Lung Cancer Battle and Eight-Year Debt Struggle
Actress Lee Hye-young has revealed that she spent eight years working without break to repay debts following her 2005 divorce, a period of intense physical strain that preceded her lung cancer diagnosis. According to a video titled “6th Year of Fighting Cancer, Facing Follow-up Tests for the 5th Year” on her YouTube channel, Hye-young is Unstoppable, the actress describes a cycle of “earning and paying back” that compromised her health before her medical crisis.
The Financial Toll and Physical Exhaustion (2005–2013)
Following her divorce in 2005, Lee Hye-young faced significant debt remaining in her name. To clear these obligations, she maintained a grueling professional schedule for approximately seven to eight years. She reported transitioning directly from late-night drama filming to home shopping studios, often moving immediately to early-morning sets after broadcasts.
Lee stated on her channel that she “ate only things that were bad for the body” and felt her physical condition deteriorating during this time. She described the period as “eating away at my own body” to ensure her financial debts were settled.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Surgical Complications
After resolving her debts, Lee faced a health crisis. Having undergone regular check-ups for pneumothorax since childhood, she discovered a lesion that had grown, leading to a lung cancer diagnosis. The treatment required a surgical procedure to remove a portion of her lung, involving an incision through the ribs.
The surgery, originally estimated to take three hours, extended to six hours. Lee reported a traumatic experience where she regained consciousness from anesthesia earlier than expected, leaving her aware of the cold hospital environment and the sounds of other patients in pain. She stated that this experience led to “mental suffering regarding death.”
Recovery and Mental Health Treatment
To manage the psychological aftermath of her surgery and diagnosis, Lee sought professional help. She disclosed that she has been treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) under the care of a professor of neuropsychiatry specializing in the condition.
Lee encouraged her viewers to view mental health care with the same normality as visiting a doctor for a cold, stating that “the head can catch a cold too” and urging people not to fear psychiatric help. She noted that while she spent much of her early recovery “crying every day,” she has since found peace of mind.
Current Health Status and Outlook
Now in her sixth year of fighting lung cancer, Lee is preparing for her final follow-up examination. She reported feeling a gradual improvement in her physical health over the past year. Lee expressed a determination to return to her pre-illness self and a desire to live her life with renewed intensity.
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