Colin Firth's ex-wife Livia opens up about her battle with breast cancer

Actor Colin Firth's ex-wife Livia has spoken out about her battle with cancer. On her Instagram*, 54-year-old Livia posted several photos of herself undergoing treatment. In the caption, she said she decided to share her story to encourage people to get tested.

"A few weeks ago, thanks to my regular annual mammogram, my doctor (a wonderful woman named Margherita) made an early diagnosis. After further testing, I was diagnosed with carcinoma in situ. An early stage of cancer that could have become very serious in a few months. I started treatment right away and now it is gone," she wrote.

"I'm so lucky it didn't go any further. I'm so grateful that I have access to top-notch health care. But I realize there are millions of people who don't, and I don't take any of that for granted."

Over the weekend, it became known that Shannen Doherty had died at the age of 54. The actress had been battling breast cancer since 2015. The actress underwent a mastectomy, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In 2017, she went into remission, but in 2019, the disease returned. Last year, the star reported that her disease had progressed: the cancer had metastasized to her brain. Doherty spoke a lot on social media about how her illness progressed, and urged her fans to pay more attention to their health.

Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli split in 2019 after 22 years of marriage. As insiders told the press, the breakup occurred because the actor could not forgive Livia for cheating on him. Livia is a producer, documentary filmmaker, and environmental activist.