I am Ronan, I am in my first year of study with the Open University, studying for a BA in Geography!
In early 2021 when I was 16, I noticed a small lymph node appear on the back of my neck, I saw the GP who put this down to stress. I pushed for answers and was given an ultrasound in the autumn. They found nothing alarming in my lymph nodes but did discover a serious-looking nodule on my thyroid. Over the next 2 years I had many biopsies, which all came back as inconclusive, and now turning 18, whilst sitting my A-Levels, was told to monitor it and come back if there were any developments. I took the chance to have one final biopsy before being discharged and the inconclusive became slightly more suspicious, yet not alarming.
In October of 2022 I was offered to have the right-half of my thyroid removed for diagnostics, yet with no urgency as doctors weren’t concerned, given I had no other symptoms. Fast forward a year to the procedure in October last year just after I began my studying with the Open University, and that decision was the best thing I could have done. Whilst on a work trip in Japan in December, I received a call from my doctor, who instead of telling me the nodule was benign, informed me they had found a 2.5cm cancerous growth inside my right thyroid, and multi-sited extensive spread across the gland and into localised lymph nodes. I was devastated, away from family, on the other side of the world, and to have news that feels like your life is over – dropped on you so suddenly was by far the worst part. Thankfully, I was brought home very quickly and began my treatment.
I had the remainder of my thyroid removed as a precaution just before Christmas, and whilst there was no more cancer found here, they did discover more affected lymph nodes. Just this week, I had radiation treatment to kill any remaining cancer cells in my neck area. Whilst I am still waiting for my next steps and to get the anxiously awaited all-clear, I am so positive about the future. I have worked and studied throughout my diagnosis and treatment in sheer stubbornness and not wanting to be bored, and catching my cancer early, I am lucky to have the rest of my life to look forward to.
I wanted to share my experience to emphasise the importance of seeing your doctor and pushing to be investigated. You know your body best and when something is not right, only you know how you truly feel. With such a range of nationalities and ages studying with the OU, I want to start a conversation and ensure that you know if you are going through something similar, there is light at the end of the tunnel and people to support you. So this World Cancer Day, I hope you’ve been able to check yourselves and to speak up if you have any concerns.
Read more about World Cancer Day – https://www.worldcancerday.org/
or some more about Thyroid Cancer – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thyroid-cancer/
Some useful links & advice:
NHS Cancer – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/
Macmillan Cancer Support – https://www.macmillan.org.uk/
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