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This Woman’s Graphic Photo Just May Save You or Someone You Love from Thyroid Cancer

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Lorna Nickson Brown was only 26 and felt totally healthy when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. So she was understandably shocked when the doctor delivered the bad news.

“This isn’t what I thought cancer looked like,” she said. “I didn’t feel ill.”

But little did she know, she was actually exhibiting one of the thyroid cancer symptoms for more than a year. And the photographs prove it.

As Brown explained on Twitter, the photo on the left shows a subtle bump on her neck, which is a sign of a problem with a thyroid.

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Brown explained that her mom was actually the first to notice said lump. And when she went in for a checkup, the doctor confirmed it to be a thyroid nodule, or an abnormal growth of cells. Though these nodules can be benign, the one on Brown’s neck was larger than normal and felt very hard to the touch, prompting medical professionals to inspect it more closely.

And indeed it was revealed to be cancerous.

Thankfully, Brown was able to go in for surgery to get the lump removed, as she showed in the Twitter photo on the right. She’s now been in remission for more than a year.

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But Brown is opening up about the sneaky sign to raise awareness for people to pay attention to not-so-recognizable thyroid cancer symptoms.

For instance, other signs include a pain in the front of the neck, difficulty swallowing, trouble with breathing, vocal hoarseness, and a persistent cough that isn’t part of a cold.

Good for her! Knowledge is power for all of us.

via Refinery 29

NEXT: See celebrities who are cancer survivors below.

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