A few weeks before high school graduation I went to my physician for the annoying physical you need to enter college. My doctor was pissed because I did not follow up with an ENT about a mass on my neck from my previous appointment. She refused to sign my physical until I went to one.

Frustrated, my mom and I scheduled the appointment. The ENT told us that I had a one percent chance of having thyroid cancer and that he was only saying that because he couldn’t guarantee anything. I opted to have the mass removed surgically instead of having a biopsy.

When I went to my post opt appointment I noticed the physician assistant wouldn’t look me in the eyes as he removed my stitches. Towards the end of the appointment he informed me that the mass was believed to have been cancerous and that they had sent a sample to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion and that we had to come back a week later to find out the results.

That week was torture. When we went back to the office, the nurse was crying when she called my name. I just looked at my mom and said, “I have cancer”. The doctor came in and confirmed what we had feared. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My physician wanted to go back in and take out my entire thyroid. I would then follow up with radioactive iodine therapy. My doctor then said I would “just take a pill” for the rest of my life that would regulate my thyroid. He said it so carefree, like it was no big deal. He couldn’t have been more wrong. You will see many posts later in my blog about living with no thyroid.

Against my doctor’s wishes and my parents I started college that summer on time. I had found an endocrinologist that was about 30 minutes away from my school. I cannot stress enough how important it is to find a medical team that you trust. If you have any sort of thyroid issues it is super important to have en endocrinologist on your team. I have had good ones and horrible ones. This person essentially controls your health. Always look at reviews before scheduling your first appointment and pay attention to them. It is also vital that you like the office staff. They are the key holders to getting what you need from your physician.

If you are going through a tough time with your thyroid you are not alone. Please know that there are groups and forums out there to offer their support. Our poor family and friends who don’t struggle with the issue themselves can never truly understand. Stay strong and know that you are your own advocate!