Love Islander opens up on diagnosis after brushing off key symptom
Demi Jones has spoken out about the main symptoms of thyroid cancer, four years after her own battle with the disease. The Love Islander's life turned upside down in 2021 when doctors found a cancerous lump in her neck.
After two major surgeries and radioiodine therapy, Demi was fortunately given the all-clear that same year in December. Still, she reflected on the shock of discovering she had cancer after initially dismissing the malignant lump for some time.
"I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer age 22, and this is my story," she said in a fresh Instagram post with beauty retailer, Boots. "Thyroid cancer is when abnormal cells in the thyroid gland start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
"Symptoms of thyroid cancer include hoarseness of the voice, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and a lump. But, for me personally, I just had a lump on the side of my neck. I first discovered my lump back in 2019 when I was at uni, but I was too busy having fun.
"I didn't take it seriously enough. It wasn't until I had messages from strangers and my followers telling me that they could see this lump on my neck, it was that [which] then pushed me to get a doctor's appointment."
Demi, 27, explained that doctors initially performed an ultrasound and a blood test before draining some of the lump's fluid. Two weeks later, she was then called back and urged to go for surgery 'almost immediately'.
"At this point, I felt really uncertain. I went straight into surgery where they removed half of my thyroid and the lump to test if it was cancerous," she continued. "A couple of weeks later, the doctor called me in. As soon as they said the word 'cancer', I just went into shock. So, I then had to go back in for a second surgery where they removed the rest of my thyroid."
Although it's now been four years since Demi's cancer battle, the star said she continues to wear her scar 'very proudly' and is still keen to raise awareness of the disease. In a final plea to fans, she urged: "If you think you have any symptoms of thyroid cancer, please speak to your GP."
Other symptoms of thyroid cancer
Besides the three key red flags outlined by Demi, the NHS also acknowledges several other common symptoms of thyroid cancer. These may include:
Difficulty swallowing or breathing
Pain in the front of the neck/feeling like something is pushing against it
Red face/flushing
Softer poos or diarrhoea
Weight loss
Persistent coughing
However, current guidance warns: "These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions. Having them does not definitely mean you have thyroid cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.
"This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat."
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