‘Just Keep Fighting the Fight’: Fitness Guru Brooke Burke, 50, Opens Up About Battle With Thyroid Cancer In Honor of 10 Years Since Diagnosis

“At that time in my life I was already struggling with an abnormal thyroid,” Burke told Yahoo Life. “I remember being in the kitchen in the morning and getting the phone call, and I sort of just wanted to carry on with my coffee routine. I was like, OK, I’m going to get back to you. And they’re like, no. You have to process this. And we have to schedule surgery. And I still couldn’t wrap my head around it, which I think is quite a normal reaction. And then as a mom, I was thinking about my kids and my family, and now what’s next.”

Related: 'The Biggest Loser's' Erica Lugo Shares Powerful Photos of Thyroid Cancer Surgery On 2-Year-Anniversary; Reminds Women to '#CheckTheirNeck'

Thankfully Burke’s surgery was successful, but after experiencing consistent fatigue she was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s, which affects the thyroid. The experience overall taught Burke how important it is to speak up and educate others about possible cancer symptoms, and why it’s so important to get checked regularly and attend cancer screenings.

“It’s been 10 years since I’ve been cancer free,” Burke says. “My advice for people who are fighting it, for people who are behind the scenes, for people who are researching and trying to raise money so that we can fund these projects, just keep fighting the fight. Take advantage of the medical research that we have available to us. Get your yearly physical. Get your mammograms. Denying that is denying yourself. I’ve been there and I beat it.”

 

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Thyroid Cancer: Signs & Symptoms

Thyroid cancer is a disease that begins in the thyroid gland, which is at the base of the neck. Oftentimes, the cancer will present itself as a large bump (tumor) in the neck. However, there are other symptoms to be aware of that may also point to a thyroid cancer diagnosis. These include:

• Swollen neck
• Neck pain in the front, sometimes going to the ears
• A hoarse voice, or other changes in the voice that do not resolve
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• A continuing cough in the absence of a cold

People can get thyroid cancer at any age, but about two in three cases occur in people between the ages of 20 and 55; three out of four of these cases are in women. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is typically diagnosed in people over 60. When it comes to risk factors, family history can play a role.

Related:  7 Common Signs of Thyroid Cancer & How to Spot Them

When caught early, the disease is easy to treat. The most common treatment method is surgery, where the entire thyroid gland will be removed. This eliminates any remaining cancer cells that may be present after the tumor is removed, and increases the likelihood that you'll enter remission. It's not often that patients will need to go through additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation after the procedure.

Dr. Beth Karlan talks the importance of speaking up when you feel that something is wrong

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