A young teacher initially attributed her rapid weight loss to the demands of motherhood, but her perspective changed when she nodded off during a play session with her toddler and received a shocking medical diagnosis.

Emily Greenwood was taken aback when she learned she had thyroid cancer after discovering a small lump in her neck while driving to university in September last year.

Initially mistaking the lump for a symptom of eczema affecting her lymph nodes, Emily didn’t think much of it. However, as she found herself struggling to stay awake while interacting with her two-year-old daughter and noticed a significant drop in her weight, she grew worried.

At first, Emily attributed her fatigue and unexplained weight loss to the challenges of being a busy mom caring for her child daily. Nonetheless, after identifying a firm lump on her chin in January, she decided to consult her GP for a thorough examination.

After blood tests and a neck ultrasound, her thyroid function test results appeared normal, but her iron and folate levels were low. Despite the doctor’s advice to take supplements to address the deficiencies, an ultrasound revealed suspicious findings in her neck and chin.

Following a biopsy, Emily received the heartbreaking news of thyroid cancer and described the moment as terrifying despite being told it was a “good cancer” with high survival rates. Subsequently, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor and affected lymph nodes.

Fortunately, Emily successfully completed radioiodine treatment in July and is on track to begin her teaching career in September. She now advocates for early scans in conjunction with blood tests for anyone detecting unusual lumps, emphasizing the importance of proactive health measures.

Reflecting on her experience, Emily regretted not seeking immediate medical attention for the lump, believing that early detection could have prevented the cancer from spreading extensively. She stressed the need for thorough examinations, including ultrasounds and biopsies, not solely relying on blood tests for diagnosis.