Thyroid Cancer Detection | YMyHealth

When was the last time you had your thyroid checked?

If it’s been a while, you should put making that appointment with your primary care doc and getting it checked when you’re there high up on your to-do list. Both an annual physical exam of your thyroid gland and blood work to check thyroid hormone levels are two of the most important things you can do to prevent thyroid cancer. Symptoms are not always your first clue. Just ask fellow millennial Carly Flumer.

She is a two-time rare thyroid cancer survivor and patient advocate, who was not experiencing any symptoms when she was first diagnosed at age 27.

For younger adults, thyroid cancer tends to present at more advanced stages, meaning that it is more likely for the tumor to spread outside of the thyroid to nearby lymph nodes. Once the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, it has the ability to spread to other parts of the body if it is not diagnosed early and treated.

Primary care plays a critical role in preventing this through early detection, especially for people under age 50.

An unexpected diagnosis

Flumer was getting her routine annual physical exam when her primary care doctor discovered she had a tumor in her thyroid gland. A very unexpected discovery found in an unusual way.

She actually had a lump in her throat, so her doctor ordered an ultrasound to examine that. The lump in her throat ended up being benign, but as Flumer explained when you get an ultrasound of the neck, the technician scans the entire neck and that is how the tumor in her thyroid gland was discovered.

She was diagnosed with Stage I Papillary Thyroid Cancer, which spread to the lymph nodes in her neck as well.

This is why regular check-ups with primary care physicians are so incredibly important, and we must make time for them. Primary care visits are our first line of defense, as they can lead to early detection of multiple health issues, including thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, and heart disease. All of these when caught early can be treated more easily, more successfully, and have a far greater chance of being prevented from progressing to later stages.

“I advocate for everybody to get their physical,” Flumer said. "I didn't know anything about thyroid cancer or thyroid health before I was diagnosed because I didn't have any symptoms."

Understanding thyroid cancer

The thyroid is a small, but mighty, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that controls multiple functions in your body, including your heart rate, energy levels, and metabolism.

While there is no one cause of thyroid cancer, having previous radiation exposure to the neck area or an inherited condition can increase your risk. Also, not all thyroid cancers are the same. There are four main types each with a different level of severity. In order from least to most aggressive they are: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

To learn more about thyroid health and thyroid cancer types, visit our previous article here.

Despite the increase in the number of thyroid cancer diagnoses through the years, misconceptions continue to exist.

"The number one misconception I would say is that it's defined as the 'good cancer,' and there's no such thing as that," Flumer said.

She has heard a lot of doctors say that. The ‘good’ may be related to the fact that some types are slow growing and have a good prognosis, she thinks. However, the symptoms of any type of thyroid cancer are not good and bring lifelong change even after treatment because of how many functions the thyroid controls.

Flumer during her recovery after removal of her thyroid gland and nearby lymph nodes in her neck.

The treatment journey

Flumer’s initial treatment, like most people initially diagnosed with a Stage I Papillary Thyroid Cancer, involved surgery and the use of radioactive iodine.

She had a total thyroidectomy—removal of her thyroid gland—and underwent radiation treatment in the form of taking a radioactive iodine in pill form. The radioactive iodine is taken up by any remaining thyroid cells and kills them. Then, patients have a full body scan to see if there are still any cancer cells present.

Flumer’s thyroid cancer was considered a rare cancer as it was refractory.

“So, what that means is it does not respond to treatment," Flumer said. Four years after her initial diagnosis and treatment, her cancer came back. She was treated a second time and has been cancer-free since.

Finding support

The harrowing experience of her treatments and cancer recurrence took a toll on Flumer’s mental health. It was especially challenging during her cancer recurrence.

“It was a very hard time when I would be in the hospital for treatment, as it was 2021. So, we were in the prime of COVID,” Flumer reflected.

This part of her cancer journey taught her the importance of finding support groups designed for young adult cancer survivors. Two that she has connected with in recent years are Elephants and Tea and Young Adult Survivors United.

Elephants and Tea, which centers around a magazine and features events, is on a mission “to help adolescent and young adult patients, survivors, and caregivers know they are not alone in their experience with cancer.” Their motto: “The Elephant in the room is cancer. Tea is the relief conversation provides.”

Young Adult Survivors United offers programs that include not only support groups and monthly virtual socials, but also free acupuncture and cosmetic services. The organization’s mission is to help “young adult cancer survivors and caregivers/co-survivors cope and thrive by providing emotional, social, and financial support.”

Advocacy and awareness

As much as support groups for young adult cancer patients and survivors can be a key element of their cancer journey, for many there comes a point where the support you received becomes inspiration for advocating for others and spreading awareness about your cancer.

The power of personal stories, especially for millennials, should not be underestimated. It is the way that many younger people undergoing cancer—often what they commonly thought to be “an older person’s disease” or knew little to nothing about previously—are able to connect with other young patients and survivors, and find useful ways of coping as they learn to navigate their ‘new normal’

“I wanted to share my story, and I wanted to write it,” Flumer said. Incredibly, she got rejected by the first media outlet she pitched it to, but she kept persevering. Since then, she has shared her story in multiple publications, including with the Patient Empowerment Network. Each time she not only spreads thyroid cancer awareness, but also stresses the need for millennials to prioritize primary care visits.

Flumer has also embraced advocacy work with hands-on volunteering to help patients, who are currently undergoing treatment.

“I got started volunteering with a local organization that was founded by a young adult with thyroid cancer. They donate support bags filled with things that keep you occupied while you're in the hospital. All the bags go to teens with cancer who are hospitalized in all 50 states,” Flumer said.

Additionally, she has served as the Thyroid Cancer Empowerment Lead at the Patient Empowerment Network.

Flumer (second from left) doing cancer advocacy work.

Tips for fellow millennials

As for her fellow millennials, she wants them to know and do a few key things when it comes to their thyroid health.

First, she believes everyone should learn about and understand basic thyroid function. YMyHealth has a great animation to teach you exactly that. Here you will not only learn about how the thyroid operates and how thyroid hormone is made, but also what happens when the thyroid hormone system goes awry, and cancer develops in the gland.

She also thinks having an awareness of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are, would help people in recognizing symptoms and when they need to get checked out. Also, knowing the difference between the two conditions versus a thyroid cancer, which is very different.

Flumer advocates for young people to have regular check-ups and blood work with a primary doctor. These are incredibly important as they are the first line of defense in detecting not only hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, but also thyroid cancer.

Had she not taken the time to go her regular check-up, Flumer may not have found her thyroid cancer until it was at a much later stage and required even more aggressive treatment.

Primary care physicians are crucial, as they can guide us in care for our health overall and catch potential issues early.

Moving forward

Now, a two-time refractory thyroid cancer survivor, Flumer has made it her mission to encourage other millennials and Gen Z who are facing similar challenges to the one’s she has.

“No one should have to go through their journey alone. Being there for others in what may seem like their darkest days and spreading hope and compassion is my life's work,“ Flumer said.

While in her career path she is still deciding between healthcare, writing, and clinical research with some experience in each, one thing is for certain.

In whichever direction Flumer’s path takes in work and in life, her involvement in patient engagement and spreading hope will always be a cornerstone of her journey.

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From Routine Check-up to Thyroid Cancer Survivor