
Known for her work as Lucy on the CBS sitcom “Big Bang Theory,” actress Kate Micucci reports that she had lung cancer surgery even though she had never smoked a cigarette.
In a Saturday TikTok video, Micucci said, “Hey everybody, this is actually not a TikTok, it is a ‘Sick Tok.'” “I’m in the hospital however it’s because I underwent lung cancer surgery yesterday.”
“They discovered it quite early,” she remarked. “It’s really weird since I’ve not smoked a cigarette in my life so, you understand, it was a surprise.” According to her, the “greatest news” is that the cancer was removed because it was discovered early. “Everything is fine,” she said.
Giving up smoking does not always mean that you won’t get lung cancer, even though it is a significant risk factor. According to the American Cancer Society, up to 20% of Americans who pass away from lung cancer never smoked or used any other type of tobacco. Lung cancer is one of the most deadly diseases in the United States for those who do not smoke but still develop the disease.
In addition to smoking itself, other risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to chemicals that cause cancer, such as asbestos, radon gas, air pollution, and secondhand smoke. Alterations in lung cells, or gene mutations, can also cause aberrant cell proliferation and potentially cancer.
The Mayo Clinic states that although there is a link between smoking marijuana and a higher risk of lung cancer, more research is still required to ascertain the drug’s long-term health effects.
According to the CDC, those who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes or who do not smoke cigarettes each year account for between 20,000 and 40,000 cases of lung cancer. About 7,3000 cases are linked to secondhand smoke, and about 2,900 cases are linked to radon gas. Nevertheless, if you have never smoked, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not advise screening for lung cancer.
According to the CDC, lung cancer symptoms are generally the same whether or not you smoke: feeling unwell, coughing up blood, experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Numerous treatments are available for lung cancer, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, which combines medication to stop the spread of cancer cells. Cancer tissue can also be removed surgically.
Micucci is a singer and visual artist who was raised in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In her video, she expressed her eagerness to pick up painting again and her expectation to return to it soon.