Thyroid cancer survivor Sophie – ‘Getting things checked early is key’
Originally from France but living in Dublin, mum-of-two Sophie was worried when a lump was discovered on her neck during a regular check-up with her GP in November 2020.
Her thyroid levels were then tested and because they showed up as normal at the time, she found herself on a non-urgent waiting list. She was later shocked to be given an appointment date of March 2022 for her first scan.
“I waited for six months, and in the meantime I was following a young influencer named Demi Jones who had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She was telling her followers about her story, and it was a very similar lump. It prompted me to seek more help.”
In her case, Sophie says she was fortunate that she was able to source a scan through her private health insurance. Despite her initial suspicions, she was still taken aback to hear the news that something was wrong.
I was sent for a biopsy afterwards, which showed a 40% chance that the nodule was cancerous, so they decided to operate and remove the right lobe of my thyroid in early January 2022.
Further biopsies following her surgery confirmed a diagnosis of follicular thyroid cancer.
“The nodule on the other side was then biopsied, showing the same risk of cancer. That happened very quickly, and I had surgery to remove the remainder of my thyroid in March 2022, and again afterwards they confirmed it was a further cancerous growth. Thankfully it was contained in the thyroid.
“My ENT consultant Professor James Paul O’Neill and all the staff at the Bon Secours in Glasnevin were all wonderful and I was blown away by the level of care and compassion that I received.”
Hearing that she would not need further treatment at that point was the “first good news in months”, says Sophie.
“Getting these things checked as early as possible is really key when it comes to cancer. I’m very thankful my GP found the lump,” she adds.
Telling her two young sons about her cancer was not an easy experience, so Sophie was glad to be able to rely on help and advice from Irish Cancer Society cancer nurses through its Freephone 1800 200 700.
“That was really helpful, because when you Google something like this you really need to be able to use dependable, trusted sources and my GP and consultant had recommended the Irish Cancer Society website at Cancer.ie, so I used that as my main source of information.”
Find further advice and information on thyroid cancer at www.Cancer.ie/Thyroid-Cancer, or contact our Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700 or SupportLine@IrishCancer.ie
Contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line
If you have worries or concerns about cancer, you can speak confidentially to an Irish Cancer Society Cancer Nurse through the Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700.
Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm
For more information
Phone
1800 200 700
