Former American Idol contestant Jax just shared that she’s currently battling thyroid cancer.
The 20-year-old singer, who finished third on the show’s 14th season, talked about her battle for the first time during a NJ 101.5 radio show appearance on Monday morning (August 8).
Jax explained that in April she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, a condition in which one’s immune system attacks the thyroid and shortly after it was discovered there was 18 tumors on her thyroid, 12 of which were cancerous.
“People don’t realize how important the thyroid is. It’s more important than the actual brain. It was messing me up emotionally, putting me in a strange place,” Jax explained.
In a Facebook post she added, “I didn’t want to publicize what I was going through, but my team and family insisted that it was something I should share with the people that have stuck by me all this time. I know I have been totally MIA for a few months and I do owe you guys an explanation. You have been with me through thick and thin.
All the tumors were successfully removed and she is undergoing iodine treatments. She says her doctor’s expect a full recovery.
Our thoughts are with Jax during this difficult time.
SPOILER ALERT – DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!
The season finale of American Idol will be airing tomorrow night and we now know who the final two contestants competing for the top prize are.
The three final contestants in the competition were Nick Fradiani, Clark Beckham, and Jax. After last week’s performances, the votes were counted and the performer with the lowest amount of votes was sent home immediately without getting a chance to perform the prepared songs.
Click inside to find out who was voted off the show tonight…More Here! »
“What kind of threw me off was how he said, ‘If you think it is whack, you can go home.’ If you think I’m being rude, to be disrespectful back isn’t right. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” the 20-year-old contestant shared with People, after Harry called him out on being ‘disrespectful’.
Quentin added, “He said I could leave. I know I can leave. He can leave as well, but he chooses to be here because he loves to do what he’s doing. And that’s the same for me. Ryan just asked how I was feeling, and I was honest. I was upset.”
He said of eliminated contestant Joey Cook, “My fear was that they’re going to pit both of us against each other [in the bottom two], but I was also very uncomfortable that I [got voted through] and she didn’t. But I’m happy that she gets to branch out and flourish now because she is a monster. She gets the chance to fly now – to soar.”
