Radioactive & Positive
- 28-year-old Jeff van Reen, a non-binary TikTok star, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer two days before COVID-19 lockdown and had to isolate in the hospital during treatment.
- Van Reen went through two surgeries and radioactive iodine therapy in order to kill all the cancerous thyroid cells. The therapy caused him to be radioactive, which meant he could not have any social interaction and be confined to a hospital room.
- Despite the circumstances, van Reen shared positive TikTok videos and left us all inspired through his upbeat mindset.
Related: 7 Common Signs of Thyroid Cancer & How to Spot Them
Read MoreAfter being diagnosed, van Reen was told the prognosis was good and the disease was treatable. They went through two surgeries to remove the tumor, but during the second procedure doctors noticed that the disease had spread to the lymph glands. In order to to kill all the spreading cancer cells, van Reen was prescribed radioactive iodine therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, this extremely strong radiation treatment is often effective in killing all thyroid cells including the cancer cells.@jeffvanreenAntwoorden aan @ilumpyspaceprincess #cancer #thyroidcancer #notmyadamsapple #trans #nonbinary #queer #fy #fyp #fu #fup #foryoupage #foryou♬ origineel geluid – Jeff van Reen
Related: Eagle-Eyed Viewer Spots Thyroid Cancer In TV Reporter: See The Lump That Raised A Red Flag
The treatment caused van Reen to be “radioactive,” which means they had to live in complete solitude while being treated in the hospital. Battling cancer is already a tough feat which can really impact your emotional well-being, but having to battle the disease without being able to visit with loved ones or have any social interaction whatsoever can feel next-level hard. However, judging by van Reen’s TikTok messages, they made the best out of a tough situation. In a TikTok video, van Reen gave all of us a quick tour of their “radioactive” hospital room and all the precautions they had to take in order to keep everyone safe. Despite the tough circumstances, van Reen kept a smile on their face and made a light joke of the situation by playing Imagine Dragon’s song “Radioactive” in the background.
@jeffvanreenCancer treatment ✌ðŸ»#radioactive #cancer #thyroidcancer #nonbinary #trans #queer #fyp #fy #fup #fu #foryoupage #foryou♬ Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a disease that begins in the thyroid gland, which is at the base of the neck. Oftentimes, the cancer will present itself as a large bump (tumor) in the neck. Symptoms of thyroid cancer can sometimes be hard to detect yourself, as they can often mirror the common cold. These signs may include difficulty swallowing, changes to your voice, and a consistent cough. Since these symptoms can be confused with a cold, it’s important to be vigilant about your health and speak up if they continue without explanation.
In van Reen’s case, they knew the lump in their neck was something to be concerned about, and pushed the doctor to take a look. It’s important to remember that you know your body better than anyone else, and if you feel like something might be wrong it’s never a bad idea to speak up and push for answers.
Dr. Beth Karlan says, “If You Feel Something, Say Something”
Staying Positive During Cancer Treatment
Staying positive during cancer treatment has a bigger impact on results than you may expect. Studies prove that patients who are able to stay upbeat and positive often have better treatment outcomes, and that's why mindset and attitude can be extremely valuable tools. For those battling cancer, doing activities you love can sometimes bring some much-needed positivity into your day. Whether it’s a picnic with friends, hike in the great outdoors, or in van Reen’s case sharing some lighthearted Tik Toks, it’s so important to find those special pockets of joy.
Related: Stay Positive, It Matters
"We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes," Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that's related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities."
Dr. Dana Chase encourages those facing cancer to find moments of joy during treatment
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