Demi Jones has detailed how she will have to take hormone tablets for the rest of her life after having her thyroid removed amid her cancer battle.
The Love Island star, 22, had a thyroidectomy on Monday, and took to Instagram to emotionally update fans when she woke up from the surgery.
Speaking with new! magazine in an interview ahead of her operation, Demi revealed that she will next have ‘iodine treatment’, saying: ‘I have a real journey ahead of me.’
Fighter: Demi Jones has detailed how she will have to take hormone tablets for the rest of her life after having her thyroid removed amid her cancer battle (pictured in hospital on Tuesday)
Demi told the publication that the second operation is the full thyroidectomy, to ‘get rid of my thyroid’.
She continued: ‘Then I’ll have my iodine treatment, which basically just zaps away any remaining bits of my thyroid or cancer.
‘It’s all a bit scientific for me, so I’m not 100 per cent sure, and I do have a real journey ahead of me. But it’s all treatable so I should be absolutely fine.’
And speaking about the long-term effects of the surgery, Demi added: ‘I’ve got to take some everyday hormone tablets too, just to make sure all my hormones are level, as my thyroid won’t be there anymore.’
Brave: The Love Island star, 22, underwent another round of surgery to have more of her thyroid removed on Monday, and took to Instagram to update fans when she woke up
Demi also posted an update to Instagram Stories on Tuesday as she recovered in hospital from the major surgery.
The reality star said she’s had the full thyroidectomy now and showed the tube in her neck which connects to a drain, saying it’s the most ‘painful part’.
She continued that she feels ‘surprisingly better this time’ adding that this might be because ‘she’s been through it so knows what to expect’.
Demi also shared her delight after being told by her surgeon that there’s been an increase in young women getting their lumps checked out.
Amazing news! Demi also shared her delight after being told by her surgeon that there’s been an increase in girls getting their lumps checked out since she spoke about her cancer
Making a change: The reality star said it was ‘so amazing and fulfilling’ to know that she’s raised awareness about the cancer (left) and showed the tube in her neck which connects to a drain
‘Ive just had the best news! My lovely surgeon has just told me since I publicly spoke about my thyroid cancer they’ve had a significant increase in the number of young girls being referred and getting lumps in their necks checked and he thinks its because of me. How amazing!,’ the beauty wrote to Instagram.
Demi underwent surgery on Monday, and emotionally updated fans when she woke up by sharing a video of herself in her hospital bed.
Demi wrote: ‘I’ve just woken up. Pain is so much worse this time. I’ve been asleep for hours, nurses struggled to wake me up. Thank you for everyone’s kind messages.’
Giving her social media followers a better look at her bandaged neck, the former Love Island star moved the camera towards her face before panning it over her torso, which was tucked beneath bed sheets.
More surgery: Demi took to Instagram earlier on Monday to reveal she was having more of her thyroid removed, and she would be spending several days in hospital
View: The star shared another clip, revealing the view from her hospital window at dusk while thanking fans once more for their well wishes
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She then shared another clip, revealing the view from her hospital window at dusk while thanking fans once more for their well wishes.
‘Thank you for everyone’s messages. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can,’ wrote Demi.
Earlier on Monday Demi took to social media to reveal she was having more of her thyroid removed, and she would be spending several days in hospital.
She said: ‘Just waiting to head into surgery now to have my full thyroidectomy to remove any more cancer on the gland, feeling a bit anxious today as I’ve got to be in for a few days but I’m a tough cookie. See you on the other side.’
It comes after Demi revealed she shared the shocking news of her thyroid cancer diagnosis with fans on social media before telling her family.
Brave Demi wrote: ‘Just waiting to head into surgery now to have my full thyroidectomy to remove any more cancer on the gland’
Speaking on The ZeZe Mills show, Demi admitted she was in such shock upon learning she had thyroid cancer, the first thing she did was tell her followers on Instagram.
She said: ‘When I first found out it could be cancerous, I was in shock and I was crying because I went on social media, and I shouldn’t have done that because I hadn’t even told my family yet.
‘I don’t even know why, I can’t even tell you because my head was scrambled and I was like ”Oh my God, guys!”
The star also displayed the two inch scar she had on her neck following surgery to remove part of her thyroid, and stated she would need to have a further operation.
Demi underwent her first operation last month to remove a tumour from her thyroid gland, admitting she was ‘incredibly anxious’ about it.
Speaking to The Sun, Demi said she has been contacted by young girls who have told her it’s nice to see someone in the public eye not afraid to show their scar.
She said: ‘I was incredibly anxious as I’d never had any kind of surgery before, and while it sounds silly, I was worried about the scar on my neck.
‘Now I’ve decided to really own it because I’ve had a few young girls message me who have had thyroid cancer saying it’s been nice to see someone with a scar.’
Demi still has to undergo further treatment to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Candid: Demi previously revealed she was worried about having a permanent scar on her neck following surgery after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer (pictured)
It comes after Demi shared her ‘anger’ after six hospital appointments were delayed due to the Covid pandemic before she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
The TV star said ‘sobbed’ to her mother after a consultant explained to her that they had to ‘cut out’ the golf ball-sized lump as ‘quickly as possible’ after she had previously been told it was ‘completely clear’.
Demi said if she had listened to the doctors then she might not know she had cancer ‘inside’ her.
She added: ‘I’ve felt scared and angry. I went for a coffee the other day with a friend and said, ‘Why me? I don’t know anyone my age who has got cancer’. But I’m lucky, my cancer is treatable.’
So sad: She recently revealed the shock news that she’s been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after previously having a lump removed from her neck
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