One woman’s routine exam led to a thyroid cancer diagnosis, but early detection kept it from spreading.
Memorial Health’s Director of Specialty Practice Operations Whitney Powell learned she had papillary thyroid cancer after a routine exam led to the discovery of a lump in her neck.
“I really didn’t have any symptoms that I noticed were symptoms prior to finding that lump on my throat,” she said, “I mean, I don’t look at myself as I swallow. I don’t pay close attention to that. You know, others maybe would notice, but for the most part, you can seem perfectly fine.”
Powell’s diagnosis was unexpected.
“You know, I was pretty healthy,” she said, “I was active, all of those things. There wasn’t really anything that would have triggered me to think that I was sick, or had cancer.”
Now, she’s missing half of her thyroid, but that exam prevented the illness from spreading and becoming much worse.
Head and neck cancers have symptoms that are hard to spot in early stages, so it’s important to look out for risks.
Candace Flournoy, a nurse practitioner at the Memorial Health ENT office told us what the biggest risks are.
“The number one risk is actually smoking or tobacco use,” she said, “Followed closely by the number 2 risk factor, which is alcohol and especially the concurrent use of tobacco and alcohol; it’s really the the primary risk factor.”
Warning signs include hoarseness for four weeks, or three weeks for nonsmokers, lumps in the neck, unexplained weight loss, feeling like something is always lodged in your throat and HPV.
Head and neck cancers can also pose as other, less harmful illnesses, like a sore throat.
Flournoy said, if your throat only hurts on one side, it is time to get that checked out.
“Have a thorough screening,” she said, “Be proactive with your health, especially if you’re a smoker or have a history of smoking or, you know, excessive alcohol use.”
Flournoy also stresses that people should be more aware of head and neck cancers.
“People aren’t as aware of it as they are of some other cancers,” she said, “Which is a shame because there is really good prognosis with early diagnosis.”
This need for awareness is why Powell shares her story to encourage others to get screened, even if they feel fine.
“I had a very good prognosis,” said Powell, “It was caught before it had spread. So, they caught it at my well woman exam actually, and found a lump in my neck; so I had the testing, had all of that and that’s when we determined that it was cancer.”
Powell said she was relieved the cancer was found before it spread.
“So, for me,” she said, “It was surgery and now monitoring and I think large in part because we found it before it could become, you know, worse.”
You can never be too careful. That’s why the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma is inviting the community to come out and check those necks.
You can get a free head and neck screening April 18 at the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma in Lawton.
These free screenings are by appointment only. You can call (580) 536-2121 to schedule one.
Keep in mind, this is not a full screening. It’s a visual exam of your head, neck and mouth.
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