Kathy Griffin revealed she has lung cancer despite “never” smoking and will be undergoing surgery to have half of her left lung removed.
The comedian announced the news Monday morning in a lengthy note posted to social media, sharing that the cancer is stage 1 and “contained.”
“I’ve got to tell you guys something. I have cancer. I’m about to go into surgery to have half of my left lung removed,” she began her letter on social media. “Yes, I have lung cancer even though I’ve never smoked! The doctors are very optimistic as it is stage one and contained to my left lung.”
Griffin, 60, said she’s hopeful that she won’t need to get chemotherapy or radiation treatment after the surgery and “should have normal function with my breathing.”
“I should be up and running around as usual in a month or less,” she added.
The former “Fashion Police” star assured fans that she’ll be “just fine” and ended her note by encouraging readers to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
“Of course I am fully vaccinated for Covid,” she continued. “The consequences for being unvaccinated would have been even more serious. Please stay up to date on your medical check ups.
“It’ll save your life.”
Griffin was hospitalized in March 2020 — just days after her 99-year-old mother died — with “unbearably painful” Covid-like symptoms, but was unable to be tested for the virus due to restrictions at the time.
In an interview with “Nightline” slated to air Monday night, Griffin admits she was stunned upon receiving the diagnosis about two weeks ago.
“I was definitely in shock,” she says. “I’m still a little bit in shock — not denial — but I still like once a day I’ll just turn to like nobody next to me and go, ‘Can you believe this s–t? Is this a bitch or what?'”