A TikToker who goes by the username 'Seattle Tech Bro' says people commenting on his videos helped him discover he had cancer. Watch him explain below:
Users spotted a warning sign in the man's TikTok video that caused him to have a potentially life-saving operation.
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Fans commented on his post and recommended that he should have his thyroid looked at as it looked swollen.
In a follow up video, he said: "TikTok told me I had cancer. And it seems like they were right.
"So for those of you who don't know my first couple of TikTok videos were just me talking about my budget and people commented or DMed me saying my thyroid looked a little enlarged and that I should get it checked out as it might be cancerous.
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"And so out of an abundance of caution and just because I get anxious about these sorts of things, I went ahead and got it checked out.
"And long story short, after several rounds of tests and ultrasounds and such we found out that there's a 95 percent chance that that nodule I had was cancerous.
"I had two options. I could either take out my entire thyroid or I could just take out the cancerous bit.
"I chose to just take out the cancerous bit in the middle.
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"I will probably make less videos during recovery. It is quite hard to talk. It kind of drains me to talk so much.
According to NHS, 'thyroid cancer often causes a painless lump or swelling low down in the front of the neck'.
It adds, however, that neck lumps can be caused by a variety of less serious conditions, and only around 1 in every 20 lumps are cancerous.
Lumps that are cancerous tend to feel firm, not move around easily under the skin, and get bigger over time.
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The NHS advises that you see a GP if you have a swelling or lump at the front of your neck.
Other symptoms of thyroid cancer can include:
- swollen glands in the neck
- unexplained hoarseness that does not get better after a few weeks
- a sore throat that does not get better
- pain in your neck
- difficulty swallowing
- difficulty breathing
The NHS adds: "These symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but it's a good idea to see a GP if you develop any persistent symptoms that you're worried about."
Topics: Cancer, Health, TikTok