Read About These 10 Famous Athletes Who Survived Cancer

10 Famous Athletes Who Managed to Beat Cancer

November 6, 2011 by Staff Writers

• Tweet
• +1
• Like
• Pinit

The recent revelation that Eagles running back Jerome Harrison has a brain tumor — hopefully it’s not cancerous — underscores the reality that athletes are just like you and I. They suffer through the same traumas and dramas, and are vulnerable to the general unpredictability of life. Despite their physical and mental toughness, each of which they’ve forged through years of athletic competition, nothing can prepare them for undertaking the fights of their lives. The following athletes accepted the challenge presented by cancer, triumphantly defeating it as we cheered them on. Not all athletes are role models, but these guys — just a handful of the many cancer survivors in sports — exhibited traits everyone should emulate.

1. Mario Lemieux, Hodgkin’s lymphoma

   Unquestionably one of the best hockey players to ever lace up the skates, Lemieux’s health was his most fierce rival. During his career, he battled chronic back pain, chronic tendinitis, a spinal disc herniation, and most daunting, Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Diagnosed during the 1992-93 season, in which he was on pace to eclipse the single-season goal and points records, he was sidelined for two months as he underwent aggressive radiation treatments. Incredibly, he played on the last day of the treatments, scoring a goal and tallying an assist against the Flyers.

2. Saku Koivu, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

   Most 26-year-old athletes are entering the primes of their careers — Koivu, instead, simply wanted to stay alive. As with Lemieux and many other players in the intensely physical sport of hockey, he constantly battled injuries, which, in a way, may have prepared him for his bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While on a flight to the U.S. from Finland, he experienced tremendous stomach pain and vomiting — clear signs that something wasn’t right. As a result, he received aggressive treatment with radiation and drugs, causing him to lose significant amounts of weight and energy. With the motivation provided by the support of fellow athletes who endured the disease, he managed to return before the end of the 2001-02 season. He helped the Canadiens reach the playoffs, and played the best hockey of his career — to that point — the following season.

3. Jessica Breland, Hodgkin’s lymphoma

   It’s difficult not to concede that women are the stronger humans. Breland is proof, as she too successfully defeated Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma while she was just 21-years-old. A student at theNorth Carolina at the time, she spent six months receiving chemotherapy treatments, missing the entire 2009-10 season. The Tar Heels leading scorer and rebounder in 2008-09 returned for her redshirt senior season, performing well enough garner a selection in the WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx. Minnesota traded Breland to the New York Liberty.

4. John Cullen, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

   The length at which a cancer patient is required to fight the disease varies. Cullen’s harrowing 18-month battle included numerous peaks and valleys, none of which disrupted his focus. Initially, a baseball-sized tumor was found in his chest, but chemotherapy treatments eliminated it in just a few months. Because cancer cells were still present in his body, he sat out the 1997-98 season to continue his fight. During that time, he suffered cardiac arrest — needing a defibrillator to revive him — and he later received a bone marrow transplant, which severely weakened him. His hockey career wasn’t over, however. When he was declared cancer free, he trained for a comeback, eventually signing with the Lightning.

5. Edna Campbell, breast cancer

   Breast cancer in the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women. Most of us personally know a woman who has dealt with the disease, whether it’s a family member, friend, coworker, or acquaintance. Campbell certainly touched the lives of her teammates and fans as she battled the disease during her fourth season in the league. Incredibly, she continued to play through her treatments, serving as inspiration to the many women in her situation. Through the years, the WNBA has had a close relationship with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation founded in Dallas, TX, utilizing its players to promote awareness of the disease. Campbell became the league’s national spokesperson for the effort, a job she embraced.

6. Brett Butler, throat cancer

   A former chewer of tobacco, Butler was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils during the latter of stages of his accomplished Major League career. After having a tonsil removed due to what the doctors thought was an infection, it was found to be cancerous, and he was forced to sit out while undergoing intensive treatment. Sidelined in May, he returned in September, finishing the season in which he encountered the biggest obstacle of his life. The 39-year-old went on to play one more season in the Majors.

7. Andres Galarraga, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

   Coming off of three consecutive seasons in which he hit 40 or more homeruns, Galaragga was enjoying the greatest success of his baseball career. However, just prior to the 1999 season, he experienced nagging back pain that wouldn’t go away. It turned out to be non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and he missed the entire season as he underwent chemotherapy treatment. On Opening Day in 2000, he returned to hit a game-winning homerun, setting the tone for an unexpectedly successful season in which he made his fifth career All-Star appearance and won the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award.

8. Jon Lester, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

   In 2006, the Red Sox prospect earned a promotion to the big leagues, but his rookie season was disrupted as he was faced with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. During a late-season game, he was scratched from a start due to a sore back, which he thought was caused by a car accident that occurred a month earlier. Enlarged lymph nodes and subsequent tests indicated it was more serious, and he received chemotherapy treatments during the offseason. Fortunately for Lester, it was gone before the 2007 season, enabling him to work his way back up to the bigs. The payoff was huge, as he won the clinching game of the World Series.

9. Mark Herzlich, bone cancer

   Herzlich’s senior season at Boston College was supposed to be an audition for the NFL — a chance to catapult himself into the first round. In the previous season, the linebacker made major strides, receiving First-team All-American honors. Seemingly indestructible, he shocked Eagles fans when he revealed prior to the season that he had Ewing’s sarcoma. Just a few weeks into the season, and four months after the diagnosis, he declared that he was cancer free. He then focused on preparing for the 2010 season — he eventually started all 13 games and recorded 65 tackles. He was signed by the Giants before the 2011 NFL season, and he remains on the team’s 53-man roster.

10. Lance Armstrong, testicular cancer

    At the age of 25, well-before he fulfilled is cycling potential, Armstrong was diagnosed with stage three Embryonal carcinoma. Because the cancer had spread to his brain, lungs, and abdomen, he was forced to immediately undergo surgery and chemotherapy. Even after the exhaustive response, he was given just a 40% chance of survival. He chose to undergo an alternative form of treatment that would preserve his lungs and thus his cycling career. Defying the odds, his cancer went into remission, and returned to training. Now, as a healthy 40-year-old, he boasts seven Tour de France victories, the most ever.

10 Celebrities Who Survived Cancer

CELEBRITIES WHO
SURVIVED CANCER

Let's take a look at just 10 of the many celebrities who have battled cancer and learn more about how they fought and survived the disease.

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE

Christina Applegate went public about her breast cancer in 2008 after undergoing a double mastectomy. Christina's mom, Nancy Priddy, is a breast cancer survivor. Christina inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation, which often triggers breast cancer, so she opted for the double mastectomy, even though she only had cancer in one breast.

SHARON OSBOURNE

In 2002, Sharon Osbourne (Ozzy's wife) was diagnosed with colon cancer. The cancer had spread to her lymph nodes but she survived the disease against a 33% survival prognosis. MTV cameras documented her illness during the filming of The Osbournes in its second season. In 2004, she founded the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars Sinai Hospital.

CYNTHIA NIXON

Cynthia Nixon (Miranda from Sex and the City) was diagnosed with breast canc

er in 2006, after the series had ended. She kept her fight very private, until disclosing her battle on Good Morning America. She has since become an ambassador for Susan G Komen for the Cure.

FRAN DRESCHER

Fran Drescher, best known for her starring role in the TV series The Nanny, was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2000 after two years of symptoms and misdiagnosis by eight doctors. She underwent an immediate radical hysterectomy and has now been cancer-free for 10 years. She wrote about her experience in a book entitled, Cancer Schmancer.

ROBERT DENIRO

Acclaimed actor Robert De Niro was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003 after a regular check-up. DeNiro's full recovery is attributed to early detection and his overall good health. DeNiro kept the details of his treatment and recovery private.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE

In 2004, Melissa Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy. The bald Etheridge made her first public appearance after chemo when she belted out Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" at the 2005 Grammys.

CYBILL SHEPHERD

Actress Cybill Shepherd can tell you all about the dangers of the sun. Shepherd was diagnosed with skin cancer -- melanoma -- back in 2002. Reportedly Shepherd used to bake in the sun a lot as a teenager. Now, she's an advocate for skin cancer awareness and sun protection.

LANCE ARMSTRONG

Lance Armstrong was given just a 2% chance of surviving his testicular cancer back in 1996 because it had spread to his abdomen, brain and lungs. But he not only beat the odds, he continued to win the Tour de France over and over again. Armstrong's ex, Sheryl Crow, is also a cancer survivor -- she had a breast cancer diagnosis back in 2006.

KATHY BATES

Some celebrities choose to keep their cancer battles very private, and that was the case with actress Kathy Bates. Best known for her role in the movie Misery, Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003, but did not reveal her illness to the public until 2009.

SUZANNE SOMERS

Unlike many breast cancer patients who choose chemotherapy, Suzanne Somers choose surgery, radiation and natural and holistic alternative treatments instead. Somers interviewed several doctors and experts about various cancer treatments and used the interviews as the basis of her book, Knockout, about alternative treatments to chemotherapy.

An Apple & Some Veggies a Day for Cancer Prevention

An Apple a Day for Cancer Prevention

Eat Your Spinach, Broccoli, and Apples for Cancer Prevention

Share this:

Font size:

AAA

By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Health News

Oct. 18, 2004 -- An apple a day plus a veggie-intensive diet are the stars of newcancer prevention studies.

The findings are being presented at the annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference in Seattle.

A chemical in apples helped prevent colon cancer in laboratory and animal studies, reports lead researcher Francis Raul, PhD, research director of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Strasbourg, France.

Three or more servings of vegetables a day -- potatoes not included -- reduced risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by 40%, says lead researcher Linda Kelemen, RD, ScD, with the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs when cells in the lymph nodes -- small organs that help fight off infection -- divide and grow out of control.

"It's been estimated that up to one-third of cancers are related to food we eat. ... That's a lot of preventable cancers," Kelemen said in a news teleconference held today. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables protect the body from damaging free radicals "like rust-proofing your car."

Continue reading below...

Apples and Cancer Prevention

In the apple studies, Raul first exposed cancer cells to various antioxidants found in apples. They found that one type of antioxidant, called procyanidins, triggered a series of cell signals that resulted in cancer cell death.

In an experiment with laboratory rats, the rats were exposed to colon cancer-causing substances and then fed a mixture of water and apple procyanidins. Rats getting "apple water" for six weeks had half the number of precancerous lesions in their colons compared with rats eating the regular diet.

The finding "suggests that eating the whole apple, including the skin, might offer some [cancer prevention] benefits," says Raul.

Cyanidins are also found in abundance in red wine and cocoa.

Cancer Prevention and Veggies

In their study, Kelemen and her colleagues identified 450 men and women between ages 20 and 74 diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Each provided diet information in a survey. She compared the cancer patients' diets with a group of people without cancer.

Those who ate both green leafy and cruciferous vegetables got "particularly strong" cancer prevention protection, she reports. Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

The daily diet of the cancer-free people included:

• One serving (one cup) daily of greens like spinach
• One-half cup of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts

Also getting good marks in cancer prevention: Whole fruits, yellow-orange-red vegetables, and processed tomato products like tomato sauce and juice. However, the cancer risk reduction was not significant, says Kelemen.

As for specific nutrients and vitamins:

• Selenium and zinc have some cancer prevention effects.
• Individual vitamins like A, C, E, individual carotenoids (like beta-carotene) and retinol (promoted as a vitamin A booster) did not lower cancer risk.

"If more people ate at least three servings of vegetables per day, there would be substantial reduction of cancer rate," Kelemen added. "Why wait until you get cancer to change your eating habits? Do it now, when you're healthy, so you can stay healthy. Set a good example for your children. Grocery stores and supermarkets offer prewashed, ready-to-eat vegetables. Some have salad bars with already prepared fruits and vegetables. They are just as costly as buying fast food and a lot healthier."

A conversation about apples & treating cancer

Health Benefits of Apples: The First Superfood!

Last Modified on Dec 03, 2013

Must we even say it? Alright, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" There, it's been said, now will you finally believe it? Apples truly are filled with the best of nature's goodness--fiber and minerals, phytochemicals and probiotics, vitamins and so much more!

Pectin -- When it gets down to it, pectin might be the most important part of the apple. It is a soluble fiber that helps the body's digestive tract work efficiently. It also binds to cholesterol, sweeping excess fatty acids out of the body so that they do not clog the circulatory system. The apple as a whole is terrific for overall heart health!

Apples also offer antioxidants, including a substantial dose of Vitamin C. Moreover, the boron and flavonoids in apples have been found to help improve bone strength. Studies have found that apples reduce the risk of several types of cancer, and diabetics may even be able to enjoy the sweet treat in good health, as certain apple components reduce the body's need for insulin.

Take a bit out of that!

Apples and Pectin

Approval Ratings
YEA (1)		100%

[YEA]  06/18/2007: Matt from Geelong West, Australia: "Much is made of the remedy inherent in Apples. It is not the apple that is so beneficial. It is the pectin in the skin of the apple. My grandmother taught me to grate the apple and eat the SKIN only to increase the potency of the cure!"

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Apples Cure Sinus Congestion

Approval Ratings
YEA (1)		100%

[YEA]  04/18/2006: Kera from Washington, DC: "I have IBS and when I'm really stressed it flares up. So, lately I've been eating apples for regular fiber intake. In the last 4 days I've had...8 apples. After my second apple today I noticed that my sinuses were draining. In the 8 hours between my second and third apple the drainage diminished. But after eating apple #3 my sinuses began draining again and I had a sort of itchy feeling in the back of my mouth from the drainage. Is it possible that I've had a similar reaction to just eating apples rather than drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar?"

Replies

12/03/2013: Christina from Austin, Tx replies: "I just happened to stumble upon this forum because I am currently sick and discovered that eating an apple helped to relieve the congestion, so I was curious if it was common knowledge. The itchy feeling at the back of your throat may have been related to acid reflux. After reading your post I may limit how many I eat at a time because I have suffered from really bad acid reflux in the past. Thank you for posting. This information should be very helpful."

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Bloating

Approval Ratings
YEA (1)		100%

[YEA]  04/08/2008: Doris from Santa Ana, CA USA: "Have always drank lots of coffee w/sugars, syrups, dairy. This year, bloating began. Starting reading about stomach and bile and acid-sugar-alkaline balances and how stomach, gall bladder, liver, small intestines deal with it. Found your apple juice, acv info. ACV was a bit harsh last week, at 1 tsp each acv w/slight honey or water. This week bloating was very uncomfortable to point of constant distraction. Found on your site to take avc or apple juice or eat an apple to regulate acid balance. Took lots of antacids today, no help, bloating was worse. Ate a very small apple at 9pm tonite and 20 minutes later, bloating almost ALL GONE. Had the rest and feel like a million. Thank you for this site teaching me what to revise in my diet, to fix these things."

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Bursitis

Approval Ratings
YEA (1)		100%

[YEA]  10/10/2013: Llb0987 from Howell, Michigan: "Apples for bursitis and arthritis: I had terrible bursitis for the last two years but for the first time I am getting some significant relief. This year there was a bumper crop of apples in Michigan because there were not any last year due to the frosts. They are all over the road and in all of the backyards. I have been eating several per day from our trees which have never done well in previous years. I tried apple cider vinegar and lots of supplements but this is what seems to be the best cure, and best of all, it is free to anyone in Michigan who wants it. If you live somewhere else, get hold of the freshest and most organic apples you can find. Spots don't matter. You can always cut them out of the apples."

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Cancer

11/13/2010: Bill In Calgary from Calgary, Alberta: "Eat the WHOLE apple, core, seeds (especially the seeds). Only the stem should be tossed. If eating the core is annoying (a couple of my friends hate it when the membrane gets in their teeth). Try quartering it. It takes a little time to "learn" how to chew the core. Probably because we have been "brainwashed" to throw it away. I'm not a health expert by any means. (Just interested in better health like everyone here) My information on apple seeds is second-hand, so I followed it up with a little on-line research, and can only find good things about apple seeds. The biggest claim is that the seed contains laetrile, and cyanide. Apparently the laetrile, allows the cyanide to enter cancerous cells and kill them. The gentleman who told me about this told a story (sorry, can't substantiate), of a terminally ill cancer patient who in an act of desperation, cored two cases of apple seeds and subsequently died. Not from cyanide poisoning but from liver failure, due to his liver being overwhelmed by dead cancer cells. True or not, the extra fibre can't hurt."

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Cleaning

08/17/2012: Mozhgan from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia: "Dear friends, I am just wondering if anybody knows how to get rid of WAX on an APPLE without peeling the skin? I have already used 1tbs ACV 1tbs BS in a boal of water, and scrubbing the apple, but didn't work. Also to soak apple into hot water for 10 secounds, didn't work.

TQ in advance."
Replies

08/17/2012: Wendy from Columbus, Oh/USA replies: "I googled this and found the following:
1) I'm definitely NOT promoting the waxing of fruit/veggies, but per this one link, "Waxing apples allows them to be picked earlier and stored longer, ".... "A side effect [of earlier picking] is that there are fewer minerals and vitamins. The peels and seeds (for the few of us who eat them) are the most vitamin-rich parts of the apple. So I don't recommend peeling the apples. A tablespoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of baking soda can be added to a sinkful of water to make a good scrubbing solution. This can remove the wax and any pesticides which might be trapped underneath it."
2) You can us an environmentally friendly, non-toxic fruit/veggie wash that is very cheap and lasts a long time. There are various brands out there. I use it regularly and it gets all the wax and pesticides off."

08/17/2012: Lisa from Jax, Fl replies: "I use a vegetable fruit wash ____ it works great. One of the main ingredients is Vegetable glycerin. Don't know if you can find this product in your country."

08/18/2012: Healthnut from Lawrenceville, Ga replies: "Equal parts vinegar and water sprayed on fruits and veggies (let stand for 2 minutes) will get wax and pesticides off."

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Heartburn

Approval Ratings
YEA (1)		100%

[YEA]  04/05/2008: Maria from Houston, TX: "I suffer from all kinds of gastro ailments. One night i couldn't sleep with the heartburn. The prevacid wasn't helping at that point and i felt very bad. I remembered I had read about apples for heartburn, and I thought, "what is there to lose." right after eating the apple I fell sound asleep! Thought someone might find this of interest."

• Reply
• Watch
• Email
• Print
• To Top

Sinus Infections

Approval Ratings
YEA (1)		100%

[YEA]  02/22/2008: Gislain from Phoenix, AZ: "Earlier this week, I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection in the back of my throat and was prescribed antibiotics...which was a hit to my health ego because I eat well but somehow caught this bug. Along with this, I developed this awful sinus infection. Horrible headaches, watery eyes, no sleep, and non-stop discomfort accompanied this! I went to the health food store and bought some nasal spray and sublingual sinus relief tablets, both of which didn't work. While suffering at work, I came across this web site and read about Apple Cider Vinegar. While excited to try this for my Sinus infection, I ate an apple as a snack. Within an hour, my sinus symptoms decreased by 60%. When I came home, I had some ACV with water and within another hour, the symptoms decreased some more. Right now, it's almost time for bed and my Sinus Infection is 90% gone and just three hours ago, I was suffering!! The apple helped and the ACV sealed the deal on this Sinus stuff! Awesome!"

Watch This Video About Cancer Signs Men Ignore

Click here if you cant see video

• Email0
• Share694

Embed

Link

Early Cancer Signs Men May Be Ignoring

5 days ago, The Check Up with Dr. Stork

Dr. Stork discusses some important early warning signs of cancer that young men often overlook. These include the obvious like lumps or growths but also include recurring fevers and discoloration under the nail bed. Early detection of these symptoms can help lead to early diagnosis.

This Will Surprise You, The Fastest Rising Cancer In Women

Why is thyroid cancer the fastest rising cancer in women?

By Lisa Collier Cool
Jul 24, 2013

Day in Health

by Lisa Collier Cool

Recent Posts

• Best and Worst Foods to Beat the Heat

• Amazing Facts About Twins

• The Surprising Dangers of Skipping Breakfast

More Articles »

Related Topics

• Chemotherapy
• Endocrine Cancer

Health Topics »

Tana Amen, RN was 23 and Charlie Nox was 29 when they were diagnosed with thyroid cancer—now the fastest rising cancer among women.
Not only have rates of the disease soared by 240 percent over the past 20 years, but it’s expected to become the third most common cancer in the US by 2019, according to Julie Ann Sosa, MD FACS, chief, section of endocrine surgery and director of health services research, department of surgery, at Duke University School of Medicine.
This year, more than 60,000 Americans—including more than 45,000 women—will be diagnosed with the disease, which typically targets people under age 55. Another scary fact: about 2 percent of cases occur in children and teens, the American Cancer Society reports.
“Almost all of the increase is papillary thyroid cancer, which used to account for 80 percent of thyroid cancer cases and has recently risen to 90 percent,” reports Dr. Sosa. The disease occurs in the thyroid: a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck just below the Adam’s apple.

Nothing “Good” About Thyroid Cancer

Because the disease has a high survival rate (over 97 percent) it’s often perceived as a “good,” “easy” or “safe” cancer—descriptions that patients like Amen and Nox say trivializes their terrifying ordeal.
“For 11 years, while my friends were falling in and out of love, studying for exams, and starting their careers, I endured horrendous surgeries and radiation treatments,” recalls Amen, a nutrition coach and author of The Omni Diet.
“A lot of people told me that this is the ‘easy cancer’ and acted like it was no big deal, but I can tell you that having cancer is really scary and changes your life forever,” says Nox, a dating coach who is working on a book about continuing to date with cancer.
“I was shocked at the diagnosis,” Nox adds, “ I thought, ‘I do yoga. I eat salad. I feel great. How can I have cancer at 29?”

What’s behind rising rates of the disease?

Particularly over the past decade, rates of thyroid cancer have dramatically and continuously increased around the world, according to a new review published in Journal of Cancer Epidemiology.
Although many experts theorize that increasing use of medical imaging has lead to greater detection of small, asymptomatic cancers, there’s also evidence that large cancers have become more common, the researchers report.
And despite earlier diagnosis and better treatments, deaths from the disease have also gone up, according to the paper. The researchers theorize that environmental carcinogens—and increased exposure to medical radiation (such as x-rays or CT scans)--are the most likely risk factors.
Another risk factor, particularly in middle-aged or older adults with the disease, is medical exposure to sunlamps, which used to be a common treatment for acne and other conditions, says Dr. Sosa.
It’s also possible that dental x-rays could be a risk, though dentists typically shield patients’ thyroids to avoid this danger, she adds. Other risk factors include a family history of thyroid cancer and having a thyroid disorder called Hashimoto’s disease.
The Best Diet to Prevent Cancer

The Telltale Symptom That Patients and Doctors Ignore

Looking back, Amen says, “For five or six years before I was diagnosed, I had a lump in my neck that slowly got bigger until it looked like a man’s Adam’s apple. But my ob/gyn never checked my neck, so I thought this was normal. I was a teenager at the time and had never heard of thyroid cancer.”
By the time Amen was finally diagnosed, she had advanced thyroid cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. Despite aggressive treatment with multiple surgeries, radioactive iodine, and other therapies, the cancer has returned three times. It’s relatively common for the disease to recur, says Dr. Sosa.
Nox also noticed a small lump on her neck, but considered it such a minor problem that she waited six months to consult a doctor. However, the cancer was still caught early, allowing her to avoid the risks and side effects of radiation therapy. Instead, she was treated with surgical removal of the thyroid.
While thyroid cancer usually doesn’t have early symptoms, potential warning signs include a lump that can be felt through the skin of the neck, hoarseness or other changes in the voice, trouble swallowing, neck or throat pain, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Could Garlic Help Prevent Cancer?

How to Check Your Neck

Jeffrey Mechanick, MD, clinical professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and bone disease at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, recommends using these steps to perform a thyroid neck check self-exam:

• Hold a mirror in your hand, focusing on the lower front area of your neck, above the collarbones, and below the voice box (larynx). Your thyroid gland is located in this area.
• Tip your head back, take a drink of water and swallow.
• As you swallow, check your neck for any bulges or protrusions in this area when you swallow. Reminder: Don’t confuse the Adam’s apple with the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located further down, closer to the collarbone.
• If you see any bulges in this area, consult your healthcare provider. You may have an enlarged thyroid gland or a thyroid nodule that should be evaluated for cancer and other thyroid conditions. Dr. Sosa also advises having your neck checked during your annual physical or other routine medical visits, even if you don’t notice any lumps.