Tik Tokers Save a Life
- Tik Tok user SeattleTechBro revealed that he had a tumor on his thyroid removed after he learned there was a 95% chance it was cancerous.
- He was alerted to the tumor by Tik Tok viewers who encouraged him to have his swollen thyroid examined by a doctor.
- People can get thyroid cancer at any age, but about two in three cases occur in people between the ages of 20 and 55.
The user, who goes by the name Seattle Tech Bro, revealed earlier this week that he had surgery to remove a tumor from his thyroid after he was encouraged to check out the swelling in his neck by some of his followers.
Read More“And long story short, after several rounds of tests and ultrasounds and such. We found out that there’s like a 95% chance that that nodule that I had was cancerous,” he told his users, while sporting a bandage over his throat.
He further explained that the two treatment options available to him were to have his entire thyroid removed or just the tumor, and opted for the latter.
“I chose to just take out the cancerous bit in the middle here, because I didn’t want to take synthetic thyroid hormone for the rest of my life, especially like at age 22, Like that’s quite a while,” he explained.
He is now recovering and said he will likely post fewer videos in the coming months due to the strain he feels when he speaks.
Know the Signs of Thyroid Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 44,280 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed during 2021, and there will be around 2,200 deaths from the disease, which is most commonly diagnosed at a younger age than other adult cancers. Women are three times more likely to develop cancer in the thyroid. Thyroid cancer can show up via any of these symptoms:
- A lump in the neck, which might grow quickly
- 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
Dr. Beth Karlan says, “If You Feel Something, Say Something”
If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor without delay. They could indicate cancer or a different condition. The good news is that lumps in the thyroid are both common and commonly benign, according to the American Cancer Society. But if you have a concern, getting screened is the way to know for sure and to swiftly proceed with treatment if needed.
Common Cold or Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer and the common cold might seem to share some similar symptoms. So how can you know when you should escalate your concern and talk to a doctor?
“Hoarseness may be a sign of thyroid cancer, but it is much more commonly due to nonalarming issues, such as voice overuse, allergies, or reflux,” Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, tells SurvivorNet. “If hoarseness does not improve over six weeks or gets progressively worse, then one should go seek medical attention, specifically an otolaryngologist who can assess the vocal cords directly in clinic.”
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Dr. Ho adds that risk factors to be aware of include, “significant family history, at least 3 family members with thyroid cancer” as well as radiation exposure.
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.
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