Samie Elishi is undergoing tests for thyroid cancer after admirers noticed a lump on her neck while she was in the Love Island villa.
The 23-year-old participant in this year’s winter series claims that her mother did not even notice while she was on the program.
“Only because I appeared on the show did fans who were so invested notice it,” she told Newsbeat.
Doctors have graded Samie’s tumor as a “three,” which indicates they do not know if it is cancerous or not.
She is having half of her thyroid removed for testing, and if the tumor is cancerous, the remaining half will be removed as well.
Samie, who reached the final of Love Island, says she would not have gotten the lump looked out if fans hadn’t reached out to her during the show.
“After the villa, my family and friends reported receiving messages from girls claiming that I have a lump on my neck and that I may have thyroid cancer,” she explains.
“I believed individuals to be insane and disregarded it.
“I had no clue. I could have worn this necklace for another decade. I feel as though my purpose for appearing on the show was to learn this.”
In a YouTube video, Samie discussed the cancer scare with her followers and expressed her desire to raise awareness about it.
“We visited the doctor and underwent blood testing. All of my blood tests were normal, but physicians grew increasingly concerned and ordered a biopsy and multiple scans.
“They then confirmed it was a 5-centimeter growth on my thyroid.”
“It’s terrifying. At one point, it became so overwhelming that I felt compelled to speak about it. You cannot know what someone is going through unless you know them personally.
Thyroid cancer is an uncommon form of cancer that affects the gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones.
According to the NHS, symptoms include a non-painful lump or enlargement in the front of the neck, swollen glands in the neck, a persistent sore throat, and difficulty swallowing.
It is most prevalent in individuals in their 30s, and women are two to three times more likely than males to develop it.
Samie expresses gratitude for the support she has received from Demi Jones, a contestant on Love Island 2020 who was also diagnosed with thyroid cancer after appearing on the program.
Demi, who announced in December 2021 that she was cancer-free, reached out to Samie after learning of her struggles.
“It’s very reassuring that Demi is the same age as me,” Samie says.
“I am relieved to see Demi succeeding and thriving. I only pray that the awareness continues to spread.
“It could have been much worse, but I’m fortunate to have it at such a young age. With any luck, it is not malignancy, and the surgery will go smoothly.
“However, it is still terrifying – who is 23 and must endure this? You anticipate everything other than this.”
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