- Jared Kushner has had a "substantial part" of his thyroid removed to treat cancer, The New York Times reported.
- Former President Donald Trump's son-in-law wrote about his cancer in an upcoming memoir.
Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior White House advisor, had a "substantial part" of his thyroid removed to treat cancer, according to an excerpt of his upcoming memoir seen by The New York Times.
Thyroid cancer is when thyroid gland cells in the neck grow out of control. The thyroid gland produces hormones, which are essential for the body's metabolism, as well as maintaining heart rate, digestion, and nail growth.
Around 45,000 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer every year, and around 2050 of those die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thyroid cancer tends to affect women more than men, but we don't know what causes it.
Kushner was diagnosed with cancer in October 2019. He wrote in "Breaking History: A White House Memoir" that his thyroid cancer was caught "early," but that he had have to have a "substantial" part of the gland removed, and that there could have lasting damage to his voice, per The Times. The book is due to be published on August 23.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer include a neck lump and hoarse voice
The Times report didn't detail Kushner's symptoms. Thyroid cancer can cause a lump or swelling on one side of the neck, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, and a hoarse voice.
These symptoms can be caused by other illnesses, but the CDC recommends people who have them to speak with a doctor immediately.
Surgery can treat thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is usually treated with surgery to remove the cancerous cells. After surgery, a patient will need to take replacement thyroid hormones for the rest of their life.
As well as surgery, most people with thyroid cancer are treated with a radioactive iodine salt that destroys overactive cells in the thyroid gland.
Kushner wrote that he underwent surgery to "remove an unusual growth" on the Friday before Thanksgiving in 2019.