Healing With Empathy: A Speech-Language Pathologist’s Personal Journey Through Thyroid Cancer

In mid-August 2024, a familiar feeling in the throat signaled something unexpected for one of UNC Health Wayne’s own. What began as mild neck discomfort and swallowing difficulty quickly became a life-changing diagnosis: thyroid cancer.

“It reminded me of the thyroid issues I had in 2021,” she recalled. “But this time, the results were different.” After undergoing an ultrasound and biopsy, she received confirmation of the disease. Just a month later, she had a total thyroidectomy at UNC Health Wayne to remove the cancer.

Now in recovery, she will be closely monitored by radiation oncology over the next five years and will take synthetic thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of her life. Still, she speaks with remarkable clarity and grace about the perspective cancer has given her. “It quickly reframes your outlook on life,” she says. “You realize just how precious each day really is. Even on the hard days, I look for something small that brings me joy.”

That mindset was nurtured by a deep well of support from those around her. “My teammates, friends, and family were incredible,” she shares. “From pre-op testing through my discharge from the second floor, I knew I was in capable and compassionate hands.” Her rehab team surprised her with care packages, gift cards, and meals, and family members traveled from out of state to help care for her children and pets—ensuring she could focus on recovery.

That care didn’t stop when she left the hospital. “Even now, my teammates check in to make sure I’m okay. That continued connection means everything.”

To others newly diagnosed, she offers heartfelt advice: “It’s scary and overwhelming, no doubt. But lean on those around you. Bring someone to your appointments—it helps to have another set of ears. And when people offer to help, let them. You don’t have to go through it alone.”

As a speech-language pathologist, her experience has transformed how she connects with patients. Many of those she treats are dealing with the very challenges she faced. “I work with patients who have swallowing issues,” she explains. “I can tell them I’ve been through those same procedures. I’ve done the same swallow tests. I’ve had to do the same exercises. That shared experience builds trust and comfort.”

Her cancer journey has added a deeper layer of compassion to the care she gives—proving that sometimes, the healer’s own story is what helps others feel truly seen and understood.