DURING the coronavirus pandemic, many people have been urged to look out for cold-like symptoms, especially with the Omicron strain.
But symptoms such as a sore throat and brain fog, which are also associated with Covid-19 – could actually be down to a deadly cancer.
Posting to TikTok, one woman revealed how she had been experiencing seven symptoms, which turned out to be signs of thyroid cancer.
The NHS says that it's a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland, which is a small gland at the start of the neck that produced hormones.
It's most common in people in their 30s and those over the age of 60, with women being more likely to develop the cancer than men.
It's usually treatable and can be cured – but it can sometimes come back after treatment.
McKell Quilter Wilson shared a video on TikTok and said it was a "friendly reminder" to her followers to "check their neck" and to "stop gaslighting yourself" into thinking that your symptoms are just stress-related.
She listed the seven symptoms she said she ignored, which actually turned out to be thyroid cancer:
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- Extreme fatigue
- Brain fog
- Rapid weight loss
- Difficulty breathing
- Increased anxiety
- Hoarse voice
- Never-ending sore throat
In the comments section she said: "I dismissed a lot of my symptoms because of my depression."
She also explained that when she had seen a medic, her "bloodwork had been fine".
When it came to diagnosis she said: "I had a visible nodule so I had an ultrasound done.
"They found 3 total, then I got a biopsy and was diagnosed shortly after."
She urged her followers to keep 'advocating' for themselves.
"Just trying to spread awareness so if there’s someone out there like me, they can get the help they need sooner than later", she added.
The NHS says that symptoms of thyroid cancer include a painless lump or swelling in the front of the neck, swollen glands in the neck, unexplained hoarseness that does not get better after a few weeks, a sore throat that does not get better and difficulty swallowing.
The 4 type of thyroid cancer you need to know
The NHS said there are 4 main types of thyroid cancer:
- papillary carcinoma – the most common type, accounting for about 8 in 10 cases; it usually affects people under 40, particularly women
- follicular carcinoma – accounts for up to 1 in 10 cases and tends to affect middle-aged adults, particularly women
- medullary thyroid carcinoma – accounts for less than 1 in 10 cases; unlike the other types, it can run in families
- anaplastic thyroid carcinoma – the rarest and most serious type, accounting for around 1 in 50 cases; it usually affects people over the age of 60
If you have these symptoms you should see your GP, but it's important to note that the symptoms might be caused by a less serious illness, such as an enlarged thyroid.
When you visit your GP they will examine your neck and also send for blood tests to check your thyroid is working.
If they think you have cancer or they are unsure of your symptoms then they might refer you to a specialist.
Thyroid cancer happens when there's a change to the DNA inside thyroid cells which causes them to grow uncontrollably and produce a lump.
It's not clear what causes this change but there are some things that increase your risk such as obesity, bowel conditions and a family history of thyroid cancer.
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