Aussie actor and comedian Judith Lucy, 58, is diagnosed with breast cancer and reveals she is getting a double mastectomy

Judith Lucy has announced she will be receiving a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks ago. 

The comedian, 58, uploaded a video to Instagram on Tuesday sharing the news and saying her operation is slated for October 16. 

She said the cancer was discovered during a mammogram appointment with Breast Screen Australia. 

Judith explained she was on her way home from another, unrelated medical appointment when she received an email from the breast screening programme. 

‘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.’ 

‘I didn’t want to say anything about it until I knew what was going on,’ she added.

‘I went last Friday for a lumpectomy and a doctor, I’m not making this up, called Dr Fun (Dr. Pei Fun Kwan in Melbourne), found more cancer. 

‘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.’

Judith then went on to joke that she has ‘had 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.’ 

‘It is relatively early stages. It is also relatively non-aggressive,’ she added.

Judith went on to address the wellness memoir she published last Monday in the midst of her breast cancer diagnosis. 

The book, titled Well Well Well…: My Wellness Odyssey from Psychics to Psychedelics and Beyond, is a ‘wellness guide’ which details her retirement from stand-up comedy, burnout, and the 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.’

‘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.