Actress Gabourey Sidibe’s husband Brandon Frankel has been diagnosed with stage 1 thyroid cancer. Brandon’s cancer was caught early because he pushed his doctor to order an ultrasound that his doctor didn’t think he needed.
Brandon announced his cancer diagnosis on Instagram on Friday, saying he underwent surgery to remove his diseased thyroid.
“Things I never thought I’d have to post: I was diagnosed with Stage I Papillary Thyroid cancer. I found it very early because I pushed for an ultrasound my doctor didn’t think I needed. I refused to ‘wait and see’. I refused to come back in 6–9 months. I made the calls. I leveraged connections. I chased cancellations. I made a LOT of noise. It worked. Surgery went well. I’m okay for now.”
Brandon – who has fraternal twins Cooper and Maya with Gabourey – admitted his cancer is a “more aggressive cell type” so he will need to monitor himself for signs of cancer recurrence.
“Pathology showed a more aggressive cell type, so there’s more monitoring ahead. But we caught it early. I’m extremely proactive so I can be around for my family.”
Brandon said he is lucky he has access to excellent healthcare and his cancer was detected sooner than people without insurance or money to make things happen faster.
“Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Early detection didn’t just save my life. Access and advocating for myself did. I had insurance. I had time. I had people who could help move things faster. Too many don’t. Healthcare shouldn’t reward the loudest, the most connected, or the most financially secure. It shouldn’t require strategy, privilege, and stamina just to feel safe.”
He praised his wife of 5 years, “Precious” actress Gabourey for “holding everything down” while he was in treatment.
He said: “My wife carried our family through all of this – holding everything down while I handled appointments, surgery, and recovery. I don’t know how anyone does this without that kind of love and support. I’m grateful. I’m lucky. But luck and means shouldn’t be a healthcare plan. The system is broken. Healthcare should be a basic human right. PLEASE advocate for yourself, and be proactive!”
Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer include a swelling or lump in front of the neck below the Adam’s apple. A small soft or firm nodule may be felt on one side of the neck.
“Thyroid cancer usually does not cause pain,” says Athanasios Bikas, MD PhD, of Harvard Medical School. “If nodules start growing, patients might feel more pressure in the neck, or very uncommonly there might be some referred pain to the jaw and ears.”
Dr. Bikas continued: “People should go to the doctor if they find a lump (especially one that is growing), if they have any compressive symptoms (trouble breathing, trouble swallowing), or if they get a hoarse voice (that is not because of an upper respiratory infection).”
