Sangita Patel reveals she will undergo radiation, second surgery for thyroid cancer: 'I'll be fine'
The 44-year-old TV host said her face is still healing from first thyroid surgery in October 2023.
Sangita Patel is giving fans an update on her health after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous lump from her thyroid in October 2023.
On Wednesday, the former the former "ET Canada" host, 44, shared an Instagram Reel about her recovery and next steps for treatment to ensure she remains "in the clear."
Responding to a fan's query about scarring, Patel explained the innovative technique used for her surgery, Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach (TOETVA).
"There's no scarring on the neck. What they do is, they put two rods in here," she said, pointing to each side of her chin.
"And then one main one that goes through your chin to your neck. I have a lot of scarring tissue," she added, noting two dents on her chin from the procedure. Patel also mentioned experiencing tightness in her neck and difficulty with certain movements due to the surgery.
"Sometimes I have to take a deep breath or swallow hard... My voice is pretty much back to normal — I can't really hit high notes yet while I'm going through still healing and trying to get my face back to normal."
Patel remained seemingly positive, revealing the next steps in her treatment plan, including "another surgery" as well as radiation treatment to ensure the cancer is completely eradicated. The mom-of-two also said she will be on medication for the rest of her life.
"This type of cancer can target my bones and my lungs and we don't want that!" Patel said.
In her caption, the Canadian TV personality shared her hope of helping others who are experiencing similar struggles with their thyroid.
"I’ll be fine. Once I start hitting those high notes I'm singing ‘Let it go,'" she quipped.
In the comments, fans shared their well-wishes and praised Patel's resilience.
"Thank you for sharing and raising awareness. Sending you so much positivity and love," an Instagram user wrote.
Another person added: "You are strong. You will get through this. Sending you healing energy."
"You are pure inspiration. Sending you the utmost love through this journey," someone chimed in.
In November, Patel shared an Instagram reel of herself opening up about the unnerving pathology report results she received shortly after her surgery that revealed the "suspicious" but "benign" lump she had removed was, in fact, cancerous.
In the emotional clip, Patel sat on a oceanfront terrace while vacationing in Turks and Caicos. "This trip came at the right time or me because right before I left I got my pathology report, and I went from benign to suspicious to encapsulated invasive oncocytic carcinoma. Cancer," she said.
According to Medscape, oncocytic carcinoma — also known as "Hurthle cell carcinoma" — is considered very "rare type of differentiated thyroid cancer," as it accounts for less "than 5 per cent of all thyroid cancers."
"I did a lot of research on the common thyroid cancers. I didn't really know much about this one. But the tumour is out, I am feeling fantastic, I am recovering, and I know I have this incredible team that's going to take me into the second chapter of this journey," she said at the time.
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