Love Island star Demi Jones has spoken about her heartbreaking thyroid cancer diagnosis on Good Morning Britain, revealing she had to battle just to get further tests done on the golf ball-sized lump that was in her neck.
The reality star, who is just 22, told fans she had been diagnosed with cancer last week, but now she's opened up on how she almost walked away with a false all-clear from doctors.
Speaking on the ITV breakfast show, Demi said that when she first discovered the lump, back in 2019, her appointment with doctors kept being pushed back as a result of the pandemic.
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She explained that she was thinking about going private because of all the delays, but when she eventually got seen, she was told that everything was fine.
Watch a clip from the interview below:
"I was so scared. My stepdad's got cancer so I knew that I had to push for appointments," she said. "It kept getting cancelled and I was eventually seen in April, and when I was seen I had my ultrasound and I had my blood-tests and both came back absolutely fine.
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"They went to send me on my way, but I knew because of [my stepdad] that I had to ask for more.
"Is there more scanning you can do? Testing you can do? And they went to drain the fluid and it was that that came back as potentially cancerous."
Speaking to Susanna Reid and Bill Turnball, Demi said she is feeling okay given the circumstances and is going to fight the horrible disease all the way.
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She added that she wants to use her experiences to encourage other women to get their lumps checked and push for further tests.
"If I hadn't asked for extra testing, I wouldn't have found out I had it," she said. "I've got to go on this journey now. I want to raise awareness for young girls.
"I've had amazing support and messages from young girls saying they've booked an appointment."
Reacting to the moving interview, fans were quick to praise Demi for speaking out and sharing her story during such a hard time.
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One viewer wrote: "@Demi_Jones1 did an excellent job telling her story I hope it helps encourage others to check and push for appointments".
While another penned: "Well done @Demi_Jones1 for highlighting thyroid cancer on @gmb today...
"I had to push start off for my journey as my stats was fine and had my ops and treatment during peak Covid. We have matching scars and #cancersurvivors".
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"Oh @Demi_Jones1, such a brave and courageous girl! Good luck on your journey #GMB," chipped in a third.
We concur. Well done to Demi for pushing for a diagnosis. We're wishing her a speedy recovery!
If you have been affected by this story or are going through something similar you can access support from Cancer Research, and donate here.
Topics: Good Morning Britain, Celebrity News, TV News, TV & Film, GMB, Love Island