Health · Medical Research · 4 hrs ago
Japanese comedian Akie Asaka reveals breast cancer diagnosis
Japanese comedian Akie Asaka has revealed she has breast cancer, six years after her diagnosis.
The 70-year-old performer, who appears in Yoshimoto Shinkigeki, said she was diagnosed with stage 2B cancer in 2020.
She first felt a hard lump after a friend told her about their own cancer, and went to a hospital the next day.
Asaka had surgery without chemotherapy and returned to work in less than a month, while keeping her illness private.
She says she is well but is still receiving treatment and takes hormone medication daily.
She chose to speak publicly at age 70 because she hopes her experience can help others.
Asaka wants people to get checked and seek treatment early; she says it can help people recover.
Japanese comedian Akie Asaka has disclosed that she was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer in 2020.
The 70-year-old said she is still receiving treatment but feels well.
She said she found a lump after checking her breast following a phone call with a friend who had cancer.
Asaka underwent surgery without chemotherapy and continued taking hormone medication.
She said she decided to speak publicly about her experience to encourage people to get checked and seek early treatment.
- Who
- Akie Asaka, a 70-year-old performer with the Yoshimoto Shinkigeki comedy troupe.
- What
- She disclosed that she was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer and is still receiving treatment.
- When
- The cancer was diagnosed in 2020; she announced it on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- She said she wanted to share her experience and encourage people to get examined and treated early.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Asaka found a lump after checking her breast and sought medical care the next day.
She was told she had stage 2B breast cancer.
She had surgery without chemotherapy and resumed work in less than a month, according to ORICON NEWS.
Asaka disclosed her diagnosis in a YouTube video and an interview published by FANY Magazine.
- Diagnosis
- Stage 2B breast cancer
- Diagnosis date
- July 6, 2020
- Age at announcement
- 70
- Treatment
- Surgery without chemotherapy; ongoing hormone medication
- Outlet-reported recovery period
- Less than one month to return to work
3 sources
What people are saying
If anyone is worried, I want to tell them what it is like. It is not as frightening a disease as people might think; if you get checked properly and treated early, it can be cured.