Jennifer Grey's "brave" mother Jo Wilder has died a week after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

The Dirty Dancing star took to Instagram to pay tribute to her mom, who passed away on July 4 at the age of 94, with the actress revealing the tragedy came just days after her cancer diagnosis and her mother died "on her own terms".

In her post, Jennifer, 66, wrote: "My mother, Jo Wilder, passed away on July 4th at 94 - by her own choosing, on her own terms, exactly as she lived.

"A week earlier, she learned she had lung cancer. True to who she was, she chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy."

Jennifer went on to add of her mother: "She was gorgeous and talented - a promising young actress on the New York stage in her youth.

"She used to say she never fully answered that calling; she became a mother instead. If she'd chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had.

"Her passion found other outlets: she was a lifelong activist, fiercely attuned to right and wrong. And for years, many people discovered her extraordinary eye through Wilder Place, her store on Melrose."

The actress concluded her tribute by writing: "She was brave and deep. I love you, Mom. Thank you for showing me how to do it all, even this, with grace."

The family tragedy comes shortly after Jennifer opened up about her own health revealing she's previously battled thyroid cancer and had a history of "inconclusive" mamograms.

Last month, Jennifer told her Instagram followers she was paying for a full-body MRI scan just to give herself peace of mind.

She wrote: "I've always been proactive about my health, but had mixed feelings about getting a Prenuvo scan: of course I want to know vs. I don't want to poke the bear.

"I have a history of thyroid cancer, the anxiety of dense breast tissue with inconclusive mammograms, and a few friends who caught something early detected by this scan, that combination finally pushed me to do it.

"The experience couldn't have been easier. I'm weirdly comfortable in MRIs - this one was louder than most - but the clinic was spotless, tranquil, and thoughtfully designed. The whole thing felt curated rather than clinical.

"With both of my parents still here at 94, I have reason to be optimistic, but I want to do everything I can to stick around - healthy - for as long as possible.

"I'm aware that this scan being so new is a luxury not everyone has access to, and I don't take that lightly.

"It's worth knowing: Prenuvo accepts FSA/HSA and offers payment plans - it's their stated goal to continue bringing down the cost so that one day this becomes routine preventive care for everyone."