Judith Lucy has disclosed that she will undergo a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks ago.
The 58-year-old comedian shared the news in an Instagram video on Tuesday, revealing that her surgery is scheduled for October 16.
Lucy said the cancer was detected during a routine mammogram through Breast Screen Australia.
She explained that she was returning home from an unrelated medical appointment when an email from the breast screening service arrived.
‘On my way home, I got an email from Breast Screen Australia telling me that my mammogram result was a bit weird,’ she recalled.
‘I’m going to take this opportunity to say ladies, for the love of god, keep up with your mammograms. Anyway, long story short, I’ve got breast cancer.’
Judith Lucy has announced that she will have a double mastectomy following her breast cancer diagnosis three weeks ago
‘I didn’t want to say anything about it until I knew what was going on,’ she added.
Lucy said she underwent a lumpectomy last Friday, but doctors discovered further cancer. The procedure was performed by Dr Pei Fun Kwan, whom Lucy jokingly referred to as Dr Fun.
‘So we have gone from a lumpectomy to a mastectomy, which I am having Friday week. I said, while you’re there, let’s get rid of the other one.’
The comedian also used humour to reflect on her decision, joking that she had enjoyed ’40 years of large and spectacular breasts’.
‘You had your chance fellas,’ she joked.
‘So I think I’m quite fine with going bra-free for my last chapter, and my last chapter is going to be very long and healthy.’
The 58-year-old comedian announced the news in an Instagram video on Tuesday and said her operation is scheduled for October 16
Judith Lucy also spoke about the wellness memoir she published last Monday while navigating her breast cancer diagnosis
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‘It is relatively early stages. It is also relatively non-aggressive,’ she added.
Lucy went on to discuss the wellness memoir she released last Monday, shortly after learning she had breast cancer.
Titled Well Well Well…: My Wellness Odyssey from Psychics to Psychedelics and Beyond, the book is described as a wellness guide. It covers her retirement from stand-up comedy, burnout and her exploration of holistic remedies.
‘Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. In fact, the elephant is not just in the room, the elephant is f***ing me doggy style,’ she joked.
‘In fact, the elephant is f***ing me elephant style if you will. There is nothing like releasing a book about wellness as you’re being diagnosed with breast cancer.
‘Now, fortunately the book does not end with me going, “And I’ve never been healthier.” In fact, kind of the point of the book is that there are no quick fixes and we should all just be living differently – and lots of jokes.’
In 2022, Judith announced she was retiring from stand-up comedy after 35 years on the road
‘But, you know, every cloud because I wrote in the introduction, “I know how lucky I am not to have a more serious health condition. If you have cancer or anything approaching that level of severity, I would stop reading now, so that you don’t want to fire me out of a canon or tattoo ‘Donald Trump is one sexy mother’ on my face next time you see me.” Well, that problem’s solved,’ she joked.
Judith finished by saying: ‘I’ll be keeping you abreast of everything Australia. I really am okay. I mean, I’m in shock, but I’m okay.’
In 2022, Judith announced she was retiring from stand-up comedy after 35 years on the road.
The funnywoman said at the time that she was ‘done’ with the constant travel and wanted to prioritise other aspects of her life.
Despite announcing her retirement, Judith returned to the stage in 2023 with a role in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days, and again in 2024 with the comedy show Menopausal Night Out.
Judith rose to fame as a cast member on ABC comedy series The Late Show in 1993.
Her comedy album King of the Road was nominated for an ARIA Award in 1999.
She achieved widespread fame as a regular on Rove in the early 2000s, and later became a fan favourite on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering from 2019.