A former Hollyoaks star has revealed to fans that she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 28-years-old.
Abi Phillips, who played Liberty Savage on the Channel 4 soap, shared the news to her Instagram page, not long after receiving the shocking diagnosis.
The star could be seen wearing a face mask and hospital gown in a string of selfies, alongside a caption which read: "So, I took these pictures before my scans and after my biopsy having a good old laugh about how ridiculously dressed up I looked in the hospital before a gig, not expecting for one moment to get the news that I did two weeks later."
The actress-turned-singer went on to explain how she had previously been told by doctors that there was nothing wrong, when she went to get tow lumps in her neck tested, The Mirror reports. She decided to seek a second opinion for "peace of mind".
Her post went on to say: "I'd previously been sent away from the doctors after having found two lumps in my neck, they'd passed it off and said I was 'young' and it wouldn't be anything and I was 'probably getting over a cold' or my body was 'fighting something off'.
"As much as that's what I wanted to hear I wanted to get everything checked for my own peace of mind."
Abi then met with a specialist who agreed with the actress that the lumps were concerning and told the 28-year-old that she would need surgery and radiotherapy. Her post, which was shared with her 12,400 followers, also saw Abi thanking Love Island alumni Demi Jones, who underwent a full thyroidectomy after being diagnosed in May 2021, for using her platform to raise awareness.
Abi went on to say: "I booked in with a specialist and immediately she told me she was very concerned due to where my lumps were located and referred me for an urgent biopsy and scans.
"Fast forward two weeks and just before Easter weekend I had an appointment to see a consultant at the QE hospital who sat me down and told me that I had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and that I would need surgery and radiotherapy treatment.
The soap star, who appeared on Hollyoaks for two years before her exit in 2013, added: "I never thought I would be told that I have cancer at the age of 28, you never think it's going to happen to you. I wouldn't have taken things further with seeing a specialist if I hadn't seen @demijones1 post as her lumps were in the exact same place as mine.
"If ever you find a lump or something unusual on your body, never just think it's nothing, don't be told that you're fine by the GP and you're 'young', always get things checked out by a specialist if you can and insist on tests even if it turns out to be nothing, as catching things early is crucial for a good prognosis.
"This time next week I'll be on the road to recovery after my operation."
