Former ER star Maura Tierney has reluctantly gone public with the news she has a breast tumor "which requires surgery," the actress said in a statement.

RadarOnline.com reported on July 10 that the start of production on Maura's new NBC series Parenthood was being postponed eight weeks while Tierney underwent a "medical evaluation."

But that announcement by NBC led to such rampant speculation about the exact nature of her illness, Maura decided to take control of the PR herself.

"In an effort to guard my privacy, it seems that the wording of NBC's press release has unfortunately caused some confusion and undue alarm about my life," Tierney said.

"I have discovered a tumor in my breast which requires surgery.  I will not know either my exact diagnosis or course of treatment until that surgery is performed.  My doctors have all assured me this is a very treatable condition. I'm very optimistic as to the outcome."

Maura starred on ER from 1999 to 2009.  Her new show, Parenthood, has been pushed back to midseason with the anticipation Tierney will be able to rejoin the cast.

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• TAGS
• ER
• Maura Tierney
• Parenthood

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