A US mum has opened up about the subtle symptoms of thyroid cancer she had ignored for weeks before her shocking diagnosis.
The woman thought her fatigue and brittle hair were because she was busy at work, but later found out they were symptoms of something far more serious.
Christina McKnight, now 35, raises awareness of thyroid cancer online after her shock diagnosis when she was just 27.
She said at the time of her diagnosis, she was young, fit and healthy, and had no family history of thyroid disease.
After ignoring the symptoms for weeks, McKnight only found herself at the doctors because her husband, Matthew, forced her to go.
She told SWNS she was starting to feel very tired and had brain fog - which she put down to getting a promotion at work - and was losing interest in activities she loved.
"My hair got weirdly brittle, and my skin got dry too," she said.
But she brushed off the signs.
Luckily, her husband knew something wasn't right and made her book the appointment.
"I finally went to the doctor to appease my husband mostly. I just told him that my symptoms were because I wasn't looking after myself - I was eating fast food and stressed at work," she told the outlet.
McKnight said her doctor found a lump on her neck she had no idea was there and sent her for an ultrasound and biopsy, which later confirmed she had cancer. A couple of months later she had a thyroidectomy followed by radiation to remove any remains of her thyroid glands.
One year later, McKnight was given the all-clear, but still has to have thyroid replacement injections.
Recently, McKnight started opening up about her journey with thyroid cancer on social media to help raise awareness of the symptoms which often go unnoticed.
"I share my story, not to scare people, but to remind them to pay attention if you’re experiencing changes and to go to the doctor," she told SWNS.
"I never would've thought being tired and having dry hair was cancer."
