Actress Lee Hye-young has shared her recent health status after battling lung cancer.
Recently, Lee Hye-young posted a photo on her social media showing her current state. In the photo, she is posing in front of a mirror wearing a black hat and jacket. She mentioned, "I think I got inflammation on my eyelids because I worked too hard preparing for the exhibition," adding, "It seems like the lymph around my eyes is acting up again."
She stated, "After overcoming a major illness, I have lingering effects and complications," and urged, "Please take care of your health."
Lee Hye-young was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021. She confessed that in 2024, she suffered to the point of being taken to the emergency room due to gallstones. Let's take a look at the illnesses she has faced.
Lung Cancer: Difficult to Detect Early
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the lungs. Symptoms such as coughing and phlegm appear when lung cancer progresses to a certain extent. Common symptoms of lung cancer also include shortness of breath, chest pain, and hoarseness. It is difficult to detect early as it has symptoms similar to a cold and often shows no initial symptoms.
If discovered in a difficult-to-treat state, the survival rate is low. In fact, only 5-15% of people are diagnosed early, and the probability of surviving more than five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is about 40%.
The biggest cause is smoking. Reports indicate that smokers are 15-80 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. However, even those who have never smoked can develop lung cancer. About 90% of female lung cancer patients are non-smokers.
Lung Cancer Can Affect Non-Smokers Too
Factors that can cause lung cancer in non-smokers include various sources beyond secondhand smoke. First, frequent exposure to various air pollutants such as fine dust and car exhaust increases the risk of lung cancer. Exhaust contains components like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds that raise the risk of inflammation and cancer development.
One should also be cautious of smoke produced during cooking. Cooking at high temperatures with a lot of oil or preparing protein foods like fish or meat can release carcinogenic substances. Cooking fumes not only contaminate indoor air but can also lead to lung cancer.
It is essential to ensure proper ventilation while cooking. Women cooking in well-ventilated kitchens have a 1.5 times lower risk of developing lung cancer compared to those cooking in poorly ventilated areas. Research has shown that women cooking in enclosed kitchens have a 5.8 times higher risk of lung cancer than those who do not.
Meanwhile, gallstones are a condition where the liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into stone-like substances. Bile is necessary for digesting fats and is produced in the liver before being stored in the gallbladder. If one experiences severe pain in the upper right abdomen and has difficulty digesting fatty foods, gallstones may be suspected. If left untreated, gallstones can worsen into cholecystitis, pancreatitis, or cancer.
