Television star Seo Jung-hee recently opened up about the physical and emotional challenges she faced during her fight against breast cancer, including her experiences with breast removal surgery and the difficult process of reconstruction.
Speaking on a tvN STORY program, Seo Jung-hee described how she first noticed warning signs such as back pain that eventually led her to seek medical attention. She said the pain also affected her arm on the side where she would later have surgery, comparing it to a frozen shoulder. During a routine bath, Seo discovered a strange lump, prompting her and her mother to immediately visit the hospital for examination.
Doctors diagnosed her with a severe form of breast cancer. Even though it was detected early, Seo underwent a total mastectomy to remove all breast tissue on one side. She explained that after the surgery, the appearance on that side resembled a man’s chest, a change that deeply impacted her.
Seo described the subsequent reconstruction process as more difficult than the surgery itself. Surgeons inserted a tissue expander that had to gradually stretch the skin and surrounding tissue to prepare for new breast formation. Seo recounted that this period was extremely painful because the expansion affected her living tissue. She stressed that enduring the pain was a major challenge in her recovery.
To complete reconstruction, medical staff created a nipple using her own tissue, then added a tattoo for a more natural appearance. Seo’s candid story highlights both the medical and personal struggles breast cancer patients can face during and after treatment, drawing attention to the realities behind breast surgery and reconstruction.
