I’m on lifelong medication after thyroid cancer – but I won’t let it define me

Body changes, long-term illness and identity 

It may sound clichéd, but for me, cancer truly was a shock. I was, by all accounts, fit and healthy when I discovered my tumour. Aside from being prone to the cold and occasionally feeling tired, I had no signs or symptoms. But it was my treatment that left me frail and unwell. 

Losing my thyroid had a profound impact on my body. In just a matter of days I gained two stone, my hair began to fall out, and what was left felt like straw, despite trying every product imaginable. I know this may seem superficial, but it was incredibly difficult to cope with, especially as a woman in my twenties. 

I will always require ongoing cancer surveillance. And while I’m getting stronger, my life will forever involve managing my condition with medication. I’ve returned to work, where my colleagues and managers have been incredibly supportive, and I’ve even started exercising again. 

However, I’ve noticed a shift in how people treat me. Whenever I sign up for new activities or hobbies, simply mentioning thyroid cancer on my medical form will seemingly put organisers off. My travel insurance has become more complicated, and society often treats me as though I’m fragile, like I could break at any moment. 

More than anything, I wish I could return to how things were before. But now, I must accept that the chronic illness left by cancer is a part of me – and I can’t let it define me. 

I was worried about ‘never being the same again’  

Meeting other people my age with cancer really helped me come to grips with what was happening to me and how it would change me forever.  

I was really worried about ‘never being the same again’, but meeting other young people who had cancer like me – who were still living their life and not letting it define them – helped me see past my diagnosis and gave me hope for the future. 

My Youth Support Coordinator Nicola helped arrange for me to have dinner in Leicester Square and see the new Lion King film with other young people dealing with cancer. It was my first time ‘out out’ since my diagnosis so I was nervous, but it went brilliantly. 

On the trip, I actually met another girl who had the same cancer as me and was a few months ahead with her treatment. We exchanged numbers and kept in contact, allowing me to ask her about her experience with radioactive iodine treatment, something I found invaluable as I was having the same treatment. 

And without my Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse Ami, my family and I would have been left with a lot of unanswered questions, worry and confusion. It was amazing to have her on my side, especially when getting hold of my medical specialists wasn’t easy – it would have been nearly impossible without her. 

We’ve had a few difficult discussions, and tears on my behalf have been shed, but Ami was always there to speak to me during tough times and helped me get through to the other side. It was really helpful to be open with her, especially when I was trying to be stronger in front of my loved ones. 

Having Teenage Cancer Trust has been invaluable – it allowed me to meet others who truly knew what I was going through. I can’t imagine navigating my diagnosis without their amazing team of people like Ami and Nicola. 

I can’t believe I didn’t notice the lump sooner  

Hindsight is a powerful thing, and now, when I look at photos from 2024, I’m almost certain the lump had been slowly growing since late 2023.  

After a swim in the sea, my dad noticed a lump on the left side of my neck. Initially, I thought it was just a reaction to the saltwater, but the lump was unusually large and hadn’t gone away after two weeks. I was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid gland – which after more surgery turned out to be cancer. 

No one’s cancer experience is the same, but one thing I’ve picked up on is that we don’t always want to be seen as symbols of strength or inspiration or placed on a pedestal. We just want you to understand that this is the hand we’ve been dealt, and we have no choice but to play it. 

Sometimes, we don’t need kind words or gentle treatment – we just need people to acknowledge how tough it is and let us tell you we’re not ‘fine.’ 

The most important thing I want to leave people with is this: Please get checked if you notice anything wrong. You know your body better than anyone, and if something feels ‘off’, or if you notice a new lump, bump, or even just feel different mentally, book a GP appointment. It could save your life.