Samie Elishi shares details of her previous cancer scare – after Love Island star found a lump on her neck following her first stint on the show
Love Island’s Samie Elishi has shared details of her previous cancer scare, which she faced after fans spotted a lump on her neck during her first stint on the ITV show.
The reality star first detailed her health scare by sharing a tearful video in April 2023 about how she had found the lump, before going on to document the process of getting it checked out and keep her followers updated.
After being flooded with messages from concerned viewers, Samie went to the doctors which lead to a biopsy at the hospital.
Following tests, she found out the lump was benign and not cancerous but was still urged to get it removed.
Two years on, Samie took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday to reflect on the process, raise awareness, and answer any questions her followers had.
Sharing pictures where the lump was visible, the Love Islander quipped: ‘It’s soo weird because I never noticed it before in the slightest but now looking back in pictures it’s so prominent and I don’t know how I missed it.
Love Island’s Samie Elishi has shared details of her previous cancer scare, which she faced after fans spotted a lump on her neck during her first stint on the ITV show
The reality star first detailed her health scare by sharing a tearful video in April 2023 about how she had found the lump, before going on to document the process of getting it checked out and keep her followers updated
She clarified: ‘My lump was 5cm big on my right side,’ before another follower asked how she knew it was a problem and what the symptoms were.
‘Now this is the scary thing,’ Samie admitted, ‘I had no symptoms whatsoever apart from having the lump in my neck.
‘It came to light when I first went on Love Island in 2022. When I came off the show my family and friends were flooded with messages from doctors and people who have had thyroid cancer previously saying I have a lump in my neck and it looks like thyroid cancer.
She added: ‘I’m a true believer of everything happens for a reason. If it wasn’t for me going on the show two years ago I would never have known.
‘At first I was actually just brushing over the comments of people saying I had a lump and just thought people were crazy (because a lot of people are haha).
‘But I was actually out for dinner with Millie and got her to feel my neck and she discovered it.’
Samie recalled: ‘Off the back of that dinner I booked an appointment at the doctors who then referred me to the hospital which lead to me having an ultrasound and then a biopsy.
‘With the biopsy they injected a needle into the lump and took a small amount of it away for testing. This then came back as a ‘grey area’ but leaning more towards the cancer side so they insisted on me having surgery to get it removed.
‘I was happy to have the surgery and just wanted it out so I probably would have got it removed even if it was leaning towards the safer side.’
After being flooded with messages from concerned viewers, Samie went to the doctors which lead to a biopsy at the hospital
Two years on, Samie took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday to reflect on the process and answer any questions her followers had
Samie shared pictures of what the lump looked like
She explained that the ‘scary part’ was that she had no other symptoms
Regardless of the tumour being benign and her thyroid not actually being effected, she still had half of her thyroid removed as part of the surgery
She added that the scar ‘doesn’t bother her at all’ and if anything she ‘finds it quite cool’
Samie went on to share a snap of what her scar looks like now
She added: ‘It’s always scary when you hear “the C word” and especially the not knowing but the doctors were super informative.
‘Thyroid cancer is one of the safest cancers as it only typically tends to travel from one side of your thyroid to the other.’
Regardless of the tumour being benign and her thyroid not actually being effected, she still had half of her thyroid removed as part of the surgery.
In another post, Samie explained: ‘After having the surgery I had blood tests to see if the half of my thyroid I had left was operating as normal and it was.’
She added that the scar ‘doesn’t bother her at all’ and if anything she ‘finds it quite cool’.
Her Instagram stories come after Samie shared an insight into her 25th birthday celebrations inside the Love Island villa last month.
Posing for a series of photos with her bikini-clad castmates, the TV personality admitted it wasn’t ‘easy’ but thanked her fans for their support.
Samie smiled by the pool wearing a patterned triangle top and matching bottoms while holding a cake.
She was later joined by the girls as they posed for a fun photo during her birthday party.
Her Instagram stories come after Samie shared an insight into her 25th birthday celebrations inside the Love Island villa last month
Posing for a series of photos with her bikini-clad castmates, the TV personality admitted it wasn’t ‘easy’ but thanked her fans for their support
Samie was then dumped from the show after a recoupling where Luca Bish chose to reunite with Grace Jackson after holding onto their connection.
She captioned the update: ‘I turned 25 in South Africa this birthday was spent with no phone & these beautiful ladies around me.
‘I can’t think these angels enough for making the weekend soo special. I may not have found a man this time round but I’ve gained girls & memories for life.’
She added: ‘I’ve been going through all your kind words & support, it’s honestly overwhelming.
‘The experience wasn’t an easy one for me but seeing all your messages/comments make it all worth it I appreciate every single one of you!
‘I feel like this time round I showed a whole different side of myself & was definitely a lot more vulnerable at times, its all part of learning and growing, I wouldn’t change any of it. Thank you.’
‘It really does take an army of amazing people to put the show together, they work their a**** off looking after us & it doesn’t go unnoticed.’
