Abi Phillips, 28, reveals she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer
Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips, 28, reveals she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer – after seeking second opinion when doctors turned her away because of her age
- The actress, 28, who played Liberty Savage on the soap, shared the shocking news with her Instagram followers on Monday evening
- Abi said she was originally told there was nothing to worry about, before asking for a second opinion when Love Islander Demi Jones raised awareness online
- Abi went on to reveal that a consultant later confirmed the worst and told her that her cancer would need urgent surgery and radiotherapy treatment
- She revealed she is having surgery on the lumps next week as the first step on her road to recovery
Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips has revealed she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after getting two lumps tested in her neck.
The actress, 28, who played Liberty Savage on the soap, shared the shocking news with her Instagram followers on Monday evening, revealing that she had been given the diagnosis last month.
Abi said she was originally told there was nothing to worry about by a doctor due to her young age, before asking for a second opinion after Love Islander Demi Jones raised awareness by sharing the location of her own tumours.
Sad news: Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips has revealed she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after getting two lumps tested in her neck
Abi admitted she never expected to be told she had cancer, and said: ‘So, I took these pictures before my scans and after my biopsy having a good old laugh about how ridiculously dressed up I looked in the hospital before a gig, not expecting for one moment to get the news that I did two weeks later…
She explained that she was originally told that the lumps were ‘nothing to worry about’ and she was likely just recovering from a minor illness.
She said: ‘I’d previously been sent away from the doctors after having found two lumps in my neck, they’d passed it off and said I was ‘young’ and it wouldn’t be anything and I was ‘probably getting over a cold’ or my body was ‘fighting something off’.
‘As much as that’s what I wanted to hear I wanted to get everything checked for my own peace of mind. I booked in with a specialist and immediately she told me she was very concerned due to where my lumps were located and referred me for an urgent biopsy and scans.’
Selfie: The actress, 28, who played Liberty Savage on the soap, shared the shocking news with her Instagram followers on Monday evening, revealing that she had been given the diagnosis last month (pictured following her biopsy)
Opening up: Abi shared a long passage about her experience on her Instagram page
Abi went on to reveal that a consultant later confirmed the worst and told her that her cancer would need urgent surgery and radiotherapy treatment.
She said: ‘Fast forward two weeks and just before Easter weekend I had an appointment to see a consultant at the QE [Queen Elizabeth] hospital who sat me down and told me that I had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and that I would need surgery and radiotherapy treatment.
‘I never thought I would be told that I have cancer at the age of 28, you never think it’s going to happen to you.
Abi added that she wouldn’t have pushed to see a specialist if it weren’t for Demi sharing her thyroid cancer ordeal on social media, and realised that their lumps were ‘in the exact same place’.
Hollyoaks: Abi found fame on Hollyoaks at the age of 16 when she debuted as Liberty in 2010. She also famously wrote the song Missing You that featured in Steph Cunningham’s death scene (pictured above on the show)
Urging her followers to be proactive about their health, Abi continued: ‘If ever you find a lump or something unusual on your body, never just think it’s nothing, don’t be told that you’re fine by the GP and you’re ‘young’…
‘Always get things checked out by a specialist if you can and insist on tests even if it turns out to be nothing, as catching things early is crucial for a good prognosis.
‘This time next week I’ll be on the road to recovery after my operation.’
WHAT IS THYROID CANCER?
It is one of the rarer cancers that affects the thyroid gland, a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones.
It’s most common in people in their 30s and those over the age of 60, with women up to three times more likely to develop it than men.
There are around 3,900 new cases in the UK every year, or 11 a day.
Thyroid cancer is usually treatable, with a 10-year survival rate of 84 per cent, and in many cases can be cured completely.
Symptoms
- a painless lump or swelling in the front of the neck – although only 1 in 20 neck lumps are cancer
- swollen glands in the neck
- unexplained hoarseness that does not get better after a few weeks
- a sore throat that does not get better
- difficulty swallowing
What causes thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer happens when there’s a change to the DNA inside thyroid cells which causes them to grow uncontrollably and produce a lump.
It’s not usually clear what causes this change, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk.
These include:
- other thyroid conditions, such as an inflamed thyroid (thyroiditis) or goitre – but not an overactive thyroid or underactive thyroid
- a family history of thyroid cancer – your risk is higher if a close relative has had thyroid cancer
- radiation exposure in childhood – such as radiotherapy
- obesity
- a bowel condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- acromegaly – a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone
Types of thyroid cancer
There are four main types of thyroid cancer:
- papillary carcinoma – the most common type, accounting for about eight in 10 cases; it usually affects people under 40, particularly women
- follicular carcinoma – accounts for up to one in 10 cases and tends to affect middle-aged adults, particularly women
- medullary thyroid carcinoma – accounts for less than 1 in 10 cases; unlike the other types, it can run in families
- anaplastic thyroid carcinoma – the rarest and most serious type, accounting for around one in 50 cases; it usually affects people over the age of 60
Inspired: Abi added that she wouldn’t have pushed to see a specialist if it weren’t for Demi sharing her thyroid cancer ordeal on social media, and realised that their lumps were ‘in the exact same place’
Abi found fame on Hollyoaks at the age of 16 when she debuted as Liberty in 2010. She also famously wrote the song Missing You that featured in Steph Cunningham’s death scene.
The character of Liberty Savage is now played by Jessamy Stoddart, who took on the role in 2018.
She’s also a singer and released her first song, Summer Sunshine, in 2011, while also appearing on The Voice UK in 2017.
Artist: As well as being an actor, Abi is also a singer and released her first song, Summer Sunshine, in 2011, while also appearing on The Voice UK in 2017
During an interview in March 2022, Demi revealed she is ‘learning to live with’ her side effects after battling thyroid cancer.
The reality star, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year, before being given the all-clear in December, admitted her life will ‘never be the same.’
Demi, who added that things are ‘going brilliantly’ since she was declared cancer-free, told OK!: ‘The people I’ve spoken to with cancer, we always say there’s life before cancer and there’s life after cancer and it’s never the same.
‘My life will never be the same’: During an interview in March 2022, Demi revealed she is ‘learning to live with’ her side effects after battling thyroid cancer
‘You have to differentiate your life in two sections, so I’m learning to live with it and I’m learning to live with side effects and everything. But everything is going brilliant.’
Demi added that she no longer worries about the ‘little things’ in life that used to make her upset, and she has encouraged others to enjoy themselves and ‘have fun’.
She said: ‘I’m still dealing with my dad at home, who is terminally ill, I’ve overcome cancer and I think life is so short. Enjoy yourself, do what you want to do, spend the money when you want to spend it and just have fun.’
On the mend: Demi, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year, before being given the all-clear in December, admitted her life will ‘never be the same’
Demi announced she was free of cancer in December 2021, just seven months after being diagnosed.
She posed next to the entrance sign for Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth as she broke the news across social media.
She wrote alongside the snap: ‘I’M CANCER FREE!!!! I did it! I got my full body scan results back and there’s not a single cancer cell left in my body.
‘It’s been such a difficult year mentally and physically for me with my surgeries and treatment but I’m beyond grateful for everyone’s kindness and support over this past year.
‘I will continue to be an advocate for cancer awareness and all my love and strength goes out to those who continue to fight this awful disease, here’s to a healthy and happy 2022.’
Been through it: Demi was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in May 2021 after discovering a lump on her neck (pictured after undergoing surgery)
The disease develops in the cells of thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland found just below Adam’s apple in the neck.
Tell-tale signs include a lump on the neck, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and hoarseness.
She has been open about her diagnosis throughout her journey with the disease.
The TV star had two surgeries after doctors found a golf ball sized tumour in her neck and had treatment in September.
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