Lucy Liu shares chilling story of cancer misdiagnosis that resulted in needless surgery

Lucy Liu is opening up about a health scare she experienced in the early 2000s.

The 57-year-old actress – who attended the Women of the Year gala last month –detailed the time she was mistakenly diagnosed with breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast.

'I didn't really think too much about it,' she told People magazine. 'But it was scary, because at that time, there was less information that was available, because we didn't have internet.'

She recalled that her doctor 'sort of felt the lump and said it was cancer,' without providing follow-up tests or advising her to get an ultrasound or a mammogram.

Alternatively, a surgery was 'immediately scheduled' to remove the lump and Liu only learned afterward that it wasn't cancerous.

'I think that was the beginning of understanding how to advocate for myself,' the Devil Wears Prada 2 star reflected.

The actress, now a mom of one, admitted she brushed off advice to get another doctor's opinion.

'Even though my friend had said to get a second opinion, I sort of thought, "Well, what's the point? The doctor knows what they're talking about,"' she explained.

And now she wants to encourage fans to advocate for their health and well-being.

'I never really reflect and regret. I always look at a situation and I grow from it,' she noted.. 'I think there are too many punishing moments that you can have, and I don't think it should start from that place.'

Contrarily, she said, 'I think it should start from a much more positive place, because you can't go back in time. So it's more like, okay, what can I do differently and what is a better choice for myself and for others?'

The star has partnered with Pfizer to promote cancer prevention and early detection.   

'Cancer has shaped my life in both the time we’ve gained and the time we’ve lost, and that’s why this matters to me,' she said in an Instagram caption this week.

'Early detection is key,' she emphasized to her nearly two million followers.

Liu uploaded a brief video and said, 'The most important screen is the one that has the potential to save your life.

'My own breast cancer scare nearly 20 years ago was a powerful reminder of how critical awareness can truly be.'

She added in her People interview, 'I feel like a lot of people have been advocating for themselves more and more, and especially for women's health in general.

'I think it is vital, because I don't want to continue to lose people, and I don't want people to feel hurt and lost and scared.'

The Hollywood vet stressed, 'I want this to be part of their regular regimen – if you can get up every single day and work out, this is something you do just once or twice a year for yourself, and it is really critical.'