Lee Kyung-jin Opens Up About Breast Cancer Battle and Dramatic Weight Loss
Actress Lee Kyung-jin recently shared her harrowing experience battling breast cancer, revealing a significant weight drop to just 38 kilograms during her treatment. The 70-year-old actress detailed her ordeal on the YouTube channel ‘Real Actresses,’ discussing the emotional and physical challenges she faced.
Facing a Demanding Diagnosis
Lee Kyung-jin recounted a particularly difficult period in her life, marked by personal loss and a subsequent cancer diagnosis. “Within one year, I held funerals for my older sister and my mother, and after I finished renovating the house, I got cancer,” she shared. She expressed feeling conflicted about her diagnosis, stating, “I felt so unfair that I couldn’t die, even if it was just because I renovated this house.”
Physical Toll of Treatment
The actress described the severe physical toll the cancer and its treatment took on her body. “Even if I ate, my body couldn’t absorb it and I couldn’t sleep, so I didn’t gain weight,” she explained, noting she was “almost just skin, and bones.”
Initial Mastectomy Recommendation and Second Opinion
Initially, Lee Kyung-jin received a diagnosis recommending a total mastectomy. Yet, a second opinion, facilitated by Head Doo-shim, an ambassador for Seoul National University Hospital, changed her treatment path. “Go Doo-shim, who was a public relations ambassador for Seoul National University Hospital, connected me to Seoul National University Hospital, so I went there and was told that I didn’t need to have abstinence,” she said. Hearing this news brought her relief, allowing her to sleep for the first time in a long time.
Emotional Impact of the Diagnosis
Lee Kyung-jin expressed the profound emotional impact of the initial mastectomy recommendation, stating, “Removing the breasts is like removing an arm.” She recounted a dismissive interaction with another doctor who told her, “My sister also had her breasts removed and it’s fine,” which led her to seek care elsewhere.
Overcoming Cancer and Finding Support
Ahn So-young, a fellow actress, offered support to Lee Kyung-jin, acknowledging the difficulty of her solitary battle. “You overcame it alone. How difficult it was,” So-young said.
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