CARLY’S STORY

Three years ago, when I was 27 years old, I was feeling really tired. I had recently started graduate school to study health communication at Boston University and I thought that my tiredness was normal for a college student who was also working full-time. During a routine physical check-up my primary care doctor felt a lump in my throat. They ordered an ultrasound and they found a tumor in my thyroid, which was biopsied by laboratory staff and the immediate result from the pathologist was cancer, more specifically: Stage 1 Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Classical Variant.

Cancer is one of the most feared diseases. Everyone is affected by it in some way, but no one really imagines getting it themselves. So imagine hearing that you got the “good” cancer, a commonly used term for thyroid cancer. When I was diagnosed, I felt aloof and I numbly accepted my cancer diagnosis as part of my life. I was ready to do what I had to do to manage my cancer. Fast forward to today and I am cancer free! I do still depend heavily on the lab in my follow up care to make sure that the cancer does not come back. If I don’t have labs done, I don’t know if my body is responding properly to treatment. That is why I encourage other patients and caregivers to understand and ask questions about their labs, including what they are, what they’re for, and what the results mean as far as survivorship goes.

Since her diagnosis, Carly has become an active patient advocate for adolescents and young adults with cancer. She is also a scientific data analyst who examines clinical trial protocols and translates the information into lay-friendly language that patients can understand to help them find clinical trials that are right for them. She lives and breathes patient advocacy, both in her work and by sharing her cancer story with others. Carly’s advice to other patients is to ask questions and find a doctor that understands you. She also emphasizes the importance of having a caregiver by your side and to never be ashamed to ask questions about your diagnosis to educate yourself.

If you’re a thyroid cancer patient, whether newly-diagnosed, in treatment, no evidence of disease (NED), or anywhere in between, educate and advocate for yourselves. Find doctors who take the time to understand your wants and needs as an individual human being. Never think that your cancer is “less than,” because it matters”