In this episode Charlotte & Greg talk to Jordan, a young thyroid cancer survivor, who had been unknowingly suffering with the condition for years.

As a teenager, Jordan experienced many symptoms and illnesses that were constantly attributed to having a young and busy lifestyle. However, when she found a large lump on her neck, she knew it wasn’t normal, and kept returning to the doctor’s until it was finally taken seriously. All came to a head eventually during covid, where she experienced extreme tiredness and fatigue, which could no longer be explained away by a busy social life.

Bizarrely, although her blood’s came back not indicating any issue with her thyroid, the biopsy of the lump in her neck showed it was thyroid cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes in her neck. Luckily for Jordan, thyroid cancer is a slow growing cancer, so it hadn’t spread beyond that before it was caught. However, it is scary to think she could have had the cancer in her body for 5-10 years, undetected.

It also explained the wide varieties of symptoms she had experienced across the years, and so (in a way) was a relief to finally have a diagnosis and be able to treat the issues. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism - controlling heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance.

Over a year on from her surgery, Jordan (just turning 23) is still facing a battle to get her health back to a normal level for her age, and continues with ongoing physiotherapy, rehabilitation and hormone treatment.

However, she remains positive about her future and wants to help to inspire other teenage/young cancer sufferers to know that they’re not alone and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just take one step at a time!

Jordan has been raising awareness with the Teenage Cancer Trust and Stand Up to Cancer campaigns. You can follow Jordan’s video blog on instagram @jordansthyroidcancerjourney

Jordan also talked about the valuable financial support she received from both Young Lives VS Cancer and Macmillan cancer support. Support links can be found below:

https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/life-with-cancer/i-have-cancer/money/

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-and-work/financial-guidance-help-line