Physical Wellness

Actress' Photo Shows How Thyroid Cancer Signs Look Like [VIDEO]

By Anne Collins | Update Date: Mar 09, 2017 09:56 AM EST

When actress and producer Lorna Nickson Brown was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, she said she was surprised because she felt totally fine and almost ignored the symptom. The 26-year-old later found out she was exhibiting symptoms of thyroid cancer that was noticeable in her selfies.

The actress has played a part in Agatha Christie's Poirot, Holby City and Doctors, she said she didn't know that the lump on her neck was what cancer looked like. She went to see a GP three months after her mother noticed she was losing some weight. The assessment revealed that it was malignant and she needed surgery.

According to the Daily Mail, Lorna went through surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and has now fully recovered.  She decided to share her photo when her cancer was in plain sight. Her twitter post included a photo taken before she was diagnosed and a second photo after surgery.

This type of cancer is not widely known, which is why Lorna wanted to help raise awareness of thyroid cancer symptoms. She decided to team up with the UK-based charity, Get-a-Head, an organization that supports people with head and neck diseases and cancers.

According to the American Cancer Society, thyroid cancer can cause signs or symptoms such as a lump in the neck that sometimes grow quickly, swelling in the neck, pain in front of the neck sometimes goes up to the ears, hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away, trouble swallowing, trouble breathing and a constant cough that is not due to a cold.

The Teen Vogue reported that Lorna had at least one symptom and felt fine, that is why it's important to get checked out once a bump on the nech has been noticed. If you notice a lump on someone's neck, make them aware of thyroid cancer symptoms as it could make all the difference.

Thyroid cancer is treatable and can be cured completely, but it can sometimes come back after undergoing treatment. Lorna will be running a marathon next month to raise money for the charity.

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