Thyroid Cancer and Dancing with the Stars

Jan 20, 2013 | Stacy Matson | Celebrity Health
Thyroid Cancer and Dancing with the Stars

image by: Brooke Burke

Why the hell didn’t I check this eight months ago when my doctor told me to? Too busy, I guess. This feels like an irresponsible, stupid and lame excuse - Brooke Burke-Charvet

I don’t know what it is about Dancing with the Stars, but people are obsessed with that show. I guess people enjoy watching D-list stars jump around like lunatics to revive their careers, I don’t.  Or, maybe they enjoy watching the train wreck “star” that has two left feet trying to convince you that they are comfortable on stage and not about to vomit.  Obviously, I’m not a fan of the show.  However, my interest was piqued after host Brooke Burke-Charvet announced that she has thyroid cancer. Yes, I am a bit morbid. 

In her announcement, the 41 year-old TV host talked about the events that led to her cancer diagnosis.  It began early this year when her doctor found a tiny nodule on her thyroid during a routine physical and recommended that she get an ultrasound.  She said that she (stupidly) put off getting the ultrasound for more than eight months.  However, after talking to a friend who was battling thyroid cancer she decided to finally make that appointment.  And it’s a good thing she did.

After she had the ultrasound her doctor recommended that she have a biopsy.  This time she didn’t procrastinate; she immediately went in for the biopsy.   Unfortunately, the biopsy results came back inconclusive so she was scheduled for several follow-up tests which revealed that the lump was cancerous.  Deep down Burke-Charvet said she knew it was cancer; however, when she received the official diagnosis she was shocked and angry because she had procrastinated for so long.  She says, “Why the hell didn’t I check this eight months ago when my Doctor told me to?  Too busy, I guess.  This feels like an irresponsible, stupid and lame excuse.” She’s right.  It is.

It’s a lame excuse, particularly because this is not her first thyroid issue. A few years ago she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease which is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack the thyroid gland as if it were a foreign tissue.  Because of this diagnosis, Burke-Charvet was already required to see her Doctor every 6 months and was on thyroid replacement therapy. 

She said that because of her pre-existing thyroid issues she assumed the lump was a result of Hashimoto’s and was part of the reason that she put off the tests for so long.  However, that procrastination was a mistake, because patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease have an increased risk of developing some form of thyroid cancer in their lifetime. 

That being said, the five-year-survival rate for early papillary cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer, is almost 100%, according to the American Cancer Society. So, obviously the key to survival is catching it early.  

Here are a few symptoms to look out for: a lump or swelling in the neck, pain in the neck or ears, trouble swallowing, trouble breathing or constant wheezing, hoarseness, and frequent coughs that are not related to a cold.

Cancer is a scary word, but thyroid cancer is one of the most highly treatable forms of cancer.  In fact, Burke-Charvet’s doctor said that once treated, it is “the happily ever after cancer.”  Burke-Charvet is very lucky.  Not many people can put off cancer treatment for more than eight months and survive.  We hear over and over, that if caught early most diseases are curable…Let this be a reminder to you…go get your physical, or go get that test that your doctor recommended.  You may not be so lucky.

As for Burke-Charvet, she had her surgery a little over a week ago and is now focusing on recovery.   She recently wrote on her blog, ModernMom, “I just got the results back from all of my tests and great news – the thyroid cancer has been removed from my body and all my lymph nodes are clear. So I'm hoping that this is the end of the story. Woohoo!!!”


Stacy Matson, a health enthusiast from Southern California, regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.

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