'Big Bang Theory' actress and comedian Kate Micucci says she's now cancer-free
A week after revealing her lung cancer diagnosis, Kate Micucci has shared that she is now cancer-free.
In an Instagram post, the actress and comedian, who is known for her role as Lucy on "The Big Bang Theory" and is one half of the comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates, wrote, "Pretty surreal to wake up and find Good Morning America had done a segment about my lung cancer diagnosis. Great news is, thanks to surgery last week, I am cancer free and no other treatment is needed."
Micucci went on to thank her health care team and "GMA" for sharing her health news and helping to raise awareness of the disease.
"I was very lucky to have such wonderful doctors and nurses who took great care of me. And I was very lucky to find it so early," she continued. "Thank you @willreeve_ and @goodmorningamerica for getting the word out about lung cancer awareness. #lungcancer #lucky #sendinglove."
Micucci first opened up about her diagnosis in a Dec. 8 TikTok video, which she had recorded while in the hospital.
"I'm in the hospital but it's because I had lung cancer surgery yesterday," Micucci said in the clip. "They caught it really early. It's pretty weird because I've never smoked a cigarette in my life, so you know, it was a surprise, but also, I guess it happens."
Although lung cancer is often thought of as a disease impacting those who smoke, there are other risk factors for this type of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, these may include environmental factors such as air pollution, radiation exposure, workplace exposures, exposure to secondhand smoke, a family history of lung cancer or having an HIV infection.
"In people who have never smoked, about 26% of deaths caused by lung cancer have been linked to being exposed to radon," the National Cancer Institute states.
The agency also says exposure to chemicals and metals, including arsenic, asbestos, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, or tar and soot "can cause lung cancer in people who are exposed to them in the workplace and have never smoked."
In a comment beneath her TikTok video last week, responding to a fellow TikTok user, Micucci explained that bloodwork she had done was the impetus for her to get checked by a doctor.
"I had one thing in my bloodwork that came back really high," she wrote. "So I went to a preventative doc who did a few scans. He scanned my heart and … that's where the spot in my lung was noticed."
Micucci also said at the time that the "greatest news" was that doctors had caught her lung cancer in its early stages and she was optimistic about returning to work.
"They got it out. I'm all good. But it's been a little bit of a trip and [I'll] probably be moving a little slow for a few weeks but then I'll be back at it," she said.
"Can't wait to be painting more, which, I'll be painting soon I think," she added.
