Cancer doesn't discriminate. The young and old alike can be affected, as can the healthy and the unwell. There's no telling when tragedy will strike — you can only look for the signs and practice good habits to avoid getting sick.
Olympic athletes may be the ones you would least expect to get sick. They are often in shape and good health, and look after themselves vigorously. At any sign of illness, they seek the opinion of a doctor, as their careers depend on their well-being.
But some signs can easily be missed. Mack Horton, an Olympic swimmer from Australia, has an eagle-eyed fan to thank for noticing a mole on his chest that changed in shape and color over time — a sign of melanoma.
Horton had the mole removed, and is currently awaiting results of the biopsy of the mole. Whatever the outcome, the Olympian's story serves as a warning to all that regular checkups and self-exams can be instrumental in avoiding a cancer diagnosis.
Olympic swimmer Mack Horton has made headlines for his accomplishments with the Australian swim team. But now he's making headlines for a very different reason: for possibly narrowly avoiding a grim diagnosis.
An eagle-eyed fan noticed a mole on Horton's chest that had gotten bigger and darker since the 2012 Olympics.
The fan then alerted the team doctors via email, who in turn advised Horton to go to a skin doctor to get a closer look.
It turns out that the fan, who wished to stay anonymous, may have helped the 20-year-old avoid cancer.
Horton underwent surgery to remove the mole, though he is still waiting for the results of the biopsy.
Whatever they may be, he's sending a clear message to all of his supporters: It's important to pay attention to the subtle changes of your body. He thanked the fan who sent the tip, as it may have saved his life!
"Shout out to the person that emailed the swim team doctor and told me to get my mole checked out. Good call. Very good call," he wrote on Instagram with the above photo.
Please SHARE if you're going to get yourself checked out for some strange-looking moles to prevent a cancer diagnosis, too!
