This week we met with 23 year old Rebekka Jackson to hear all about her unique story of battling an underestimated disease while studying to get a degree.
When you think of turning 21, I presume you imagine graduating from uni, your only worries being what you're going to wear to your final freshers week and what job you'll be doing after you graduate.
In September 2017, Rebekka was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and her whole world was quite literally turned upside down. Her plans of finishing uni, graduating and going into her dream career had to be put on hold while all of her friends lives continued as normal.
Rebekka has since undergone 3 major operations, a round of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, and is now learning to live a life without her thyroid. So...let's hear all about her insanely inspiring story, and maybe this will teach you to learn to get to know your body, and #checkyourneck.
Rebekka said: "Turning 21 was something I heavily associated with being a 'fully grown adult'. It all started when my doctor pointed out that my neck was slightly swollen, I hadn't noticed it myself. I was assured that it would probably be nothing but I was still sent for an ultrasound scan.
"On September 19th 2017, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. At the age of 21, you don't imagine it. There is absolutely no way to describe the emotions I felt."
For those of you who don't know, your thyroid has control over pretty much every cell in your body. It determines how you're going to feel every single day. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate your body's metabolism, digestive function, muscle control, brain development, mood and bone maintenance.
Rebekka started a blog shortly after her diagnosis in hope that she could share her story and connect with people who are also fighting this disease.
She said: "I always remember the doctors telling me that thyroid cancer isn't common and there aren't that many support groups available for it. Granted, there were a few, but these were for people who were having chemotherapy for example and I didn't really want to go to a place where I wouldn't be able to relate to what others were going through.
"I wasn't really starting my blog with the intention of growing a massive platform, I wanted it to be a place where I could share my story and be my most vulnerable. I wanted to turn this negative thing that had come into my life and turn it into something positive.
"I joined Facebook groups for people thyroid cancer and I shared my posts in there, which created quite a large interaction and I have now started an Instagram account for my blog so that I can share regular updates on there."
After her diagnosis Rebekka had to defer her final year of studying Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University to focus on her battle with this disease. She said: "I expected to start and finish my final year at university with my friends. I expected to still be living on my own, going out and doing whatever people my age do, instead this had all been ripped away from me.
"There is a stigma surrounding cancer and its fighters. It isn't a taboo word - we should be discussing it as it can often feel like a lonely process. I would rather share absolutely everything I've been through in the hopes it helps even one person than keep it all to myself and not let others even try to understand the process and what can be expected.
"Thyroid cancer especially can feel lonely as it is classed as one of the rare ones and also has a high survival rate. This statistic does crazy things to you. You almost feel guilty for having a high chance of beating it and not having to endure chemotherapy. There are many people in a worse position than me but the effects of thyroid cancer on a persons body is often overlooked and this shouldn't be undermined."
If you want to learn how to #checkyourneck, you can follow these simple steps:
Locate thyroid gland by focusing mirror on lower front area of your neck, above collarbones and below voice box.
Focus on this area while looking in the mirror, tip your head back, take a drink of water and swallow.
As you swallow, check for any bulges or protrusions. You may want to repeat this process several times.
See your physician if you see any protrusions in this area. You may have an enlarged thyroid gland or a nodule.
If you want to check out Rebekka's blog, you can click here. Or her Instagram is @battlingthyroidcancer.
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