Have you ever noticed that sometimes other people notice things about us before we notice them? Sometimes it’s our family member who notices that we’ve been in a snappy mood, or a friend points out that we have a stain on our shirt during a lunch outing. Sometimes we’re too preoccupied to notice these things about ourselves, but then it’s as clear as daylight once another person points it out.
A Tampa, Florida news reporter for WFLA-TV named Victoria Price might be able to relate. While her news report was being shone on television recently, a viewer noticed a decent sized lump on the left side of the reporter’s neck. In response, the viewer sent her an e-mail to give her a warning.
“Hi, I just saw your news report. What concerned me is the lump on your neck. Please have your thyroid checked,” the viewer told her. “Reminds me of my neck. Mine turned out to be cancer. Take care of yourself.”
The e-mail ended up being a big wakeup call for the busy news reporter, who admits she wasn’t paying too much attention to the state of her physical health. Especially being just 28-years-old, she probably never expected anything serious to happen to her healthwise.
“As a journalist, it’s been full throttle since the pandemic began. Never-ending shifts in a never-ending news cycle. Adjusting to remote workflows and in my case, taking on a new investigative role,” Price said on social media. “We were covering the most important health story in a century, but my own health was the farthest thing from my mind.”
But thanks to the e-mail, Price decided to go to the doctor where she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Although the diagnosis was concerning, Price is thankful that the viewer pointed it out as the cancer was still in its relatively early stages.
“Doctor says it’s spreading, but not too much, and we’re hopeful this will be my first and last procedure. Had I never received that email, I never would have called my doctor. The cancer would have continued to spread. It’s a scary and humbling thought.”
Late last month, the news reporter was scheduled to have surgery to remove the thyroid, the malignant tumor, as well as a few lymph nodes in her neck.
While she is expected to recover, Price will forever be thankful for that concerned viewer who likely saved her life.
“She had zero obligation to, but she did anyway. Talk about being on your side, huh? The world is a tough place these days. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Love y’all and see you soon,” she said.
Hear more of Price’s story below.
