Kathy Griffin undergoes vocal cord surgery after losing her voice amid lung cancer treatment
(Picture: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)Kathy Griffin has revealed she is set to undergone surgery on her vocal cords after her battle with lung cancer affected her speech.
The 62-year-old took to Instagram on Tuesday to give her followers an update about her health and explained that she was having a procedure to help her vocal cords, 16 months after she had half her lung removed.
Speaking to the camera, she shared: “Good morning. Yes, I’m feeling sorry for myself and I’ll tell you why.
“Because I’m on my way to the hospital again, because I have to go into general to get another procedure on my vocal cords.
“So, the good news is I get to go home today. But the last time I got this done, it hurt for like seven days. But I’m just being a baby. But I want to get my voice back, you know, I’ll do anything.”
Sharing her gratitude for everyone’s support, she added: “Also, I wanted to tell you guys, I want your pity. Right, you know in movies, when they’re like, ‘I don’t want your pity, don’t feel sorry for me!’
“Hell yeah, I’ll take it I’ll take your pity. I’ll take your feelings of sorry. I love it. Bring it.”
Griffin, whose brother Gary and sister Joyce both died of cancer, lost her voice after half of her left lung was removed in August 2021 amid her lung cancer battle.
In September, the comedian revealed during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that she had been working on getting her voice back after her cancer treatment.
She shared: “My voice got some damage. But I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt… and the important thing is my boobs are still fabulous.”
Kimmel, 54, asked, “Will eventually your vocal cords stretch, and your voice will deepen again?”
To which she responded, “I think it’ll get back to normal, but I’m not sure. I’m still working on it. I am funnier cause I think I sound non-threatening and demure. That’s my new angle.”
Last August, Griffin revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer despite never smoking cigarettes.
At the time, she announced on social media that she was undergoing an operation to remove part of a lung and wrote: “I’ve got to tell you guys something. I have cancer. I’m about to go into surgery to have half of my left lung removed.
“Yes, I have lung cancer even though I’ve never smoked! The doctors are very optimistic as it is stage one and contained to my left lung... Hopefully no chemo or radiation after this and I should have normal function with my breathing.
“I should be up and running around as usual in a month or less.”
Griffin is known for her stand-up comedy and has also starred in television programmes including Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, Suddenly Susan and The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
