Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips has been supported by fans after she revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer.
The 28-year-old is renowned for her role as Liberty Savage in the popular Channel 4 soap. She has taken to Instagram to announce she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
She said: "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.
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"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.
"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."
Abi said she never expected to be diagnosed with cancer and urged people to get checked if they are displaying similar symptoms. She added: "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."
Followers flooded the comments to offer messages of support following the update.
Alex Reid said: "Sending my love beautiful, you’ve got this"
Layke added: "Omg i’m so glad that you figured this out sending you all the healing energy"
Anna Passey commented: "Oh Abs! So sorry to hear, sending you all the strength and love mate xx"
Sinead Burgess posted: "Sending you so much love beautiful."
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