A mom who battled thyroid most cancers aged 27 has revealed the signs she ignored weeks earlier than her prognosis, from dry pores and skin to brittle hair.
Christina McKnight, now 35, thought little of the indicators for weeks and was solely identified after her husband, Matthew Mcknight, 36, “pressured” her to see a health care provider.
She was identified with thyroid most cancers within the autumn of 2014, regardless of having no household historical past and being “younger, match and wholesome”.
Christina – who now has a five-year-old son – thought her signs had been attributable to stress after she landed a promotion at her job at a business financial institution.
Nevertheless, her fatigue, mind fog, dry pores and skin and brittle hair had been all indicators of one thing much more sinister.
Christina, a content material creator, from Oklahoma Metropolis, US, mentioned: “It was a kind of issues that I by no means thought would occur to me.
“I used to be younger, match and wholesome. I’d simply run a half marathon, did CrossFit for 3 years and had no recognized hereditary thyroid illness within the household in any respect.
“I simply began to really feel very drained and had a great deal of mind fog, however I assumed it was simply due to my promotion.
“Then my husband seen how drained I used to be and my lack of curiosity in issues just like the gymnasium, which I normally love.
“I couldn’t get stuff completed like I used to. I must go to work on a Sunday to catch up as a result of my mind was so foggy.”
Christina mentioned she began to note her hair turn into ‘weirdly brittle’, whereas her pores and skin grew drier.
(Christina McKnight/ SWNS)
“I stored brushing all of it off,” she mentioned.
“My husband knew one thing wasn’t proper and made me ebook a health care provider appointment – which I cancelled twice as a result of I had an excessive amount of happening. I lastly went to the physician to appease him largely.
“I mentioned my signs had been as a result of I wasn’t taking care of myself – I used to be consuming quick meals and confused at work.
“Fortunately my physician recognised my signs as he had not too long ago identified others with thyroid most cancers.
“He felt my neck and located a lump which I wasn’t even conscious of and acquired the ball rolling with prognosis.”
(Christina McKnight/ SWNS)
Christina then had an ultrasound and a biopsy which confirmed she had thyroid most cancers.
At first, Christina was hesitant to just accept the prognosis, as her thyroid must be eliminated.
The thyroid is discovered within the neck and produces important hormones that regulate metabolism, power ranges, coronary heart price and physique temperature.
As an athlete and runner, Christina was reluctant to undergo with the process, so acquired a second opinion that additionally confirmed she had thyroid most cancers.
She had a thyroidectomy in November 2014, adopted by radioactive iodine ablation therapy in January to take away any stays of her thyroid glands.
A yr later she acquired the all clear however has to have thyroid alternative injections to exchange her misplaced hormones.
Christina, who shares her experiences together with her 102,000 followers on TikTok, mentioned: “It was very surreal, as a result of most cancers is such a giant phrase.
“It was such a shock and I simply thought this will’t be, it was a bizarre feeling.
“A whole lot of the time they are saying thyroid most cancers occurs to older folks and that it’s hereditary, however that wasn’t the case with me.
“I share my story, to not scare folks, however to remind them to concentrate in the event you’re experiencing modifications and to go to the physician.
“Hearken to the folks round you in the event that they discover modifications in you, typically they see issues in us that we don’t see.
“Fortunately I’m OK and my husband made certain I noticed a health care provider, however I by no means would’ve thought that being drained and having dry hair was most cancers.
“It’s so necessary to concentrate on these lesser-known signs and to not assume it wouldn’t occur to you, take heed to the folks round you and take heed to modifications in your physique – it might save your life.”