Tarek El Moussa, co-host of HGTV series "Flip or Flop" has had thyroid cancer since 2013 and says he owes his life to a fan who spotted a lump on his neck on air that led to him being diagnosed with the illness, according to The Wrap.
Ryan Read, a nurse by profession, is a fan of El Moussa and his wife, Christina, and spotted the swelling during one of the show's episodes. She immediately contacted the show's production company and told them that the host needs medical attention.
"This is not a joke. I'm a registered nurse. I've been watching 'Flip or Flop.' I noticed that the host Tarek has a large nodule on his thyroid, and he needs to have it checked out," the email read, according to The Independent.
After a biopsy, it was determined that the lump was cancerous and had started spreading to his lymph nodes.
"It was just such an amazing experience to meet this person, because she stepped up and did what others probably wouldn't have done," El Moussa said, according to Entertainment Tonight.
"I probably would've never known that I had cancer," he continued. "And by the time that I would've found out, it probably would've been in a much further stage."
El Moussa, who has since undergone surgery and thyroid radioactive iodine therapy to get rid of the tumor, revealed that his cancer is currently in remission.
"I feel fantastic. I'm in shape, I'm taking all my medicines, and I'm currently in remission," he said. "Every day that goes by, the odds of the cancer [recurring] decreases, so we're really excited for that."
