Published Jan 21, 2021

Reality Star Bree Amer’s Cancer Was Spotted By a Viewer While On ‘Big Brother’; She Now Helps Others Solidify Their Love

After a beating thyroid cancer following her 2006 diagnosis (which was caught thanks to a TV viewer), Bree Amer has a new gig to shout about: Marriage celebrant!

Anne McCarthy

Details

Bree Amer's New Career

Bree Amer, 38, survived thyroid cancer in 2006 and is now excitedly sharing news of her new career with the world.
Common early signs of thyroid cancer may include a hoarse voice, lump or pain in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.
It’s important to pay attention to your body and advocate fully for your health if anything seems off.

When a viewer, who happened to be a doctor, spotted a worrying lump on Big Brother reality TV star Bree Amer in 2006, it ended up saving her life. And now, Amer is living life to the fullest by embracing a new career. After her 2006 thyroid cancer battle, she is finding joy in celebrating other people’s love stories as a marriage officiant and presiding over weddings.

The Aussie took to Instagram to share her news, writing: “Did I mention I am a Marriage Celebrant now? How good is that! There are so many different ways for a love story to start. Whether you tied up on Tinder, got set up by your besties, bumped into each other on Bumble or busted moves on an actual dance floor, one thing's for sure: you need me to tell your love story! I'm a young, modern and fun celebrant, and I'm an expert in giving the unique love story between every couple I work with an engaging and meaningful voice…”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bree Amer Wilkes âœŒðŸ¼ï¸ (@breeamer)

Understanding Thyroid Cancer

Amer’s cancerous lump was thankfully caught by a doctor who watched her Big Brother reality show and desperately tried to contact her, via the competition phone line to let her know. Amer told The Daily Mail, "When I turned my head on the ['Friday Night Live'] panel, a lump protruded out of my neck I had an inch and a half tumor that I never noticed.”

Through a chance encounter, that same doctor ending up seeing one of the other Big Brother contestants and asked them to relay the message to Amer. She was then diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2006, and had two surgeries, as well as radioactive iodine treatment to treat her cancer.

Thyroid cancer has a high incidence (nearly two-thirds of cases) of being diagnosed in younger patients, aged 20 to 55. And women are more likely to get this disease than men, with 3 in 4 cases of thyroid cancer being diagnosed in women. This disease is treated with surgery, hormone therapy, radioactive iodine, chemotherapy, and radiation. Common early signs of thyroid cancer may include a hoarse voice, lump or pain in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

The Non-binary TikTok Star Stuck In a Hospital Room "Radioactive," Isolated, & Fighting Cancer

Advocating for Your Health

Like Amer, many people experience new growths or lumps on their body which may cause concern. If you spot a lump or an unusual mole, or anything out of the ordinary, trust your gut and schedule an appointment with your doctor, as it could be the difference between life and death.

When you visit your doctor, be sure to be your own biggest advocate, and go into the appointment with a plan, our expert told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. Dr. Zuri Murrell, a Colorectal Surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said, “The truth is you have to be in tune with your body, and you realize that you are not the statistic…That’s why it’s important for you to actually educate yourself and be your own health care advocate. And that’s something that I think is really important. You should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan.”

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocateâ€¦ Don't Settle

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

SurvivorNetTV.
Hope. Science.
Inspiration.

WATCH NOW