'Saved by the Bell' Star Dustin Diamond, 44, Told He Has Cancer After Delaying Doc Visit Because He “Was Afraid to Go Out In Public” for Fear a Photo Would be Posted

The Sun reported that Diamond was resistant to seek treatment sooner, worrying that people would make fun of the lump on his neck. He was apparently rushed to a hospital in Florida and his condition is said to be “serious.” While we don't know what type of cancer he may have, we do know that finding out you have cancer is often traumatic. His good friend Dan Block told  The Sun “It started off as a tumor on his neck – a huge lump on his throat – and it was very visible.”

It’s awful that this man felt he couldn’t safely get himself checked by a doctor due to fear of the social media repercussions. During this difficult time we wish Dustin the best and hope for a quick plan of action and recovery.

Seeking Care

When something feels unusual or you notice your body out of its typical alignment for instance, you spot a lump on your neck as Diamond did it’s incredibly important to seek care and schedule an appointment with your physician.

Related: Young Woman Diagnosed With Leukemia After Being Told She Was Being "Drama Queen" Over Early Symptoms Always Advocate for Your Own Health

For many people, fear or shame can be deterrent to visiting the doctor, but prioritizing your health must trump those emotions. Block said that the actor put off seeking care because he was concerned that people would take pictures and post them online. “The reason it got so big is because he was afraid to go out in public and get help because someone would have saw him in the lobby and taken a picture and put it on the internet.”

It's not uncommon for people, particularly men, to put off seeking help for things they fear may be wrong with their health because they feel ashamed. This is especially true when it comes to cancers that may have had past stigmas attached to them, such as anal cancer.

"People Are Afraid to Talk About It Because of Where It Is": Justine Almada Talks Anal Cancer Awareness

Advocating for Your Health

When seeing a doctor, you should go in with a plan, Dr. Zuri Murrell, a Colorectal Surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, advised in a previous interview. He also said to be pushy when necessary, so you can be your own best advocate for your health. “It’s important to know that while we have guidelines OK guidelines, especially in this country are meant to take care and do the right thing for the largest number of people, but it’s also with the littlest use of resources,” said Dr. Murrell.  “And that’s the truth. The truth is you have to be in tune with your body, and you realize that you are not the statistic.”

Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability

Dr. Murrell said to pay attention to your body. “You are not necessarily going to fit into well, I don’t have to have a colonoscopy yet because I’m not 50, even though my bowel habits have changed, even though I’m having a lot of blood when I have a bowel movement. 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. So if I, as a 40-year-old, I come into a doctor’s office. I say, I’m having rectal bleeding. This is new for me.”

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate… Don't Settle

Dr. Murrell wants people to push for their health, even if it means questioning a doctor, like him. “The doctor says, you know what? It’s probably hemorrhoids. First of all, I think, did they examine me? And a lot of times, especially a male, you’re actually happy that they didn’t examine you. But that’s not necessarily the right thing to do. They’ll write you for some medication for your hemorrhoids. If they say come back in six months, my argument with that or not even an argument. My plan would be, hey, doc, I would prefer to see whether or not this treatment you have worked.”

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.