Woman shares photo showing easily “missed” thyroid cancer symptom

Meet Lorna Nickson Brown.

The actor and producer was told she had thyroid cancer in 2015 with the diagnosis coming as a shock because she didn't feel "ill". Twenty-six-year-old Lorna shared her story on Twitter recently in a bid to raise awareness of thyroid cancer and how some symptoms aren't always noticeable. Posting two photos, before and after surgery, she explained that the first photo was taken a year before she knew she had cancer and she thought nothing of the bump on her neck. As Lorna wasn't aware of the fact that this lump can indicate thyroid cancer, it went unnoticed at the time. However, her mother later commented on the lump and coupled with Lorna's weight loss, she decided to go to the doctor. The below excerpt from her Twitter post explains what happened at the time.

"Thyroid cancer is a rare cancer and usually presents itself first with a hard lump at the front of your neck. It is not widely known about. I didn't even know what a thyroid was when I was first told I had thyroid cancer. Now I know EVERYTHING about thyroids!!!!"

pic.twitter.com/juKrn5ePSn

— Lorna Nickson Brown (@LornaNBrown) March 1, 2017

After her diagnosis, Lorna had surgery to remove the lump and she has been in remission for over a year now. As you'll see from her Twitter post, she's planning to run a marathon to raise money for Get-A-Head, a UK-based charity focused on helping people with head and neck cancers and diseases. Other symptoms of thyroid cancer include unexplained continual hoarseness, a sore throat and pain swallowing. For more information and support on thyroid cancer, contact the Irish Cancer Society here.