Love Island and All Stars contestant Demi Jones took to social media over the weekend to reveal she had been back in hospital five years after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer
Demi Jones has given a health update following a hospital visit(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Love Island star Demi Jones has revealed she has been in hospital for scans for five years after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The 28-year-old reality star was a contestant on ITV’s reality dating show back in 2020, where she finished in third place alongside Justin Bieber look-alike Luke Mabbott.
The following year, Demi revealed that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and subsequently underwent surgery to have her thyroid removed. Documenting her health battle, she revealed by the end of 2021 that she had been told by doctors that she was “cancer-free”
Taking to social media over the weekend, Demi hinted that she is still undergoing check-ups following her treatment, as doctors typically test to ensure someone has been in remission for five years before giving them official news of being cancer-free. The reality star shared a photo from within a hospital on her Instagram Stories.
In the shot, a profiling care bed could be seen in a hospital corridor, with a slip-hazard cone on one side and a laundry trolley on the other. Sharing the image on Sunday, the TV star revealed she had been for a check-up the day before.
Demi wrote in an accompanying caption: “Back for another ultrasound on the neck cyst yesterday.” She continued: “Met a lovely girl who kindly said hello and was also going for a scan on her thyroid.”
And she added: “Women and thyroid issues are honestly relentless.” Following her diagnosis in 2021 and her public comments about her health battle, Demi helped others seek help from their own doctors.
Former Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips was among those who credited Demi for encouraging them to get tested after she shared her story. The Channel 4 star was diagnosed with thyroid cancer herself in 2022.
She revealed in an Instagram post: “[Demi’s] 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.”
In a recent social media post, Demi explained that she had initially brushed away concerns for her health when the early signs of thyroid cancer emerged. She explained: “Thyroid cancer is when abnormal cells in the thyroid gland start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
“Symptoms of thyroid cancer include hoarseness of the voice, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and a lump. But, for me personally, I just had a lump on the side of my neck. I first discovered my lump back in 2019 when I was at uni, but I was too busy having fun.
“I didn’t take it seriously enough. It wasn’t until I had messages from strangers and my followers telling me that they could see this lump on my neck, it was that [which] then pushed me to get a doctor’s appointment.”
Doctors performed an ultrasound and a blood test before draining some of the lump’s fluid – and then two weeks later, Demi was called back and urged to undergo surgery.
She recalled: “At this point, I felt really uncertain. I went straight into surgery where they removed half of my thyroid and the lump to test if it was cancerous.
“A couple of weeks later, the doctor called me in. As soon as they said the word ‘cancer’, I just went into shock. So, I then had to go back in for a second surgery where they removed the rest of my thyroid.”
The TV star continues to raise awareness about the disease, and told fans: “If you think you have any symptoms of thyroid cancer, please speak to your GP.”
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