I didn’t doubt my doctors when they told me I had multiple sclerosis (MS), a long-term autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
This makes perfect sense. I have been suffering from muscle weakness, extreme fatigue (which no amount of sleep improves), dizziness, and headaches, all of which can be early symptoms of MS.
Symptoms began in February 2025. One morning I woke up and everything was spinning. I felt like I needed to throw up, but as I ran to the bathroom, my vision started to dim until suddenly everything went black.
I passed out. When I woke up, I was vomiting. An ambulance took me to the emergency room, where doctors ordered a brain MRI because they were worried I might have hit my head when I passed out.
Why Doctors Think I Have Multiple Sclerosis
The scans identified lesions that may be related to multiple sclerosis and can cause symptoms such as dizziness, balance problems, numbness and tingling.
Over the next year, I underwent various tests, including a spinal tap, where doctors used a needle to remove a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. The fluid is then tested for signs of disease.
My results did not show anything abnormal, but another MRI revealed that the lesion was still present. They don’t grow or reproduce, they’re just there.
exist At that time, I was evaluated by a neurologist. Then, in February of this year, he confirmed that I was in the early stages of MS and recommended starting disease-modifying treatment.
Suddenly, this diagnosis felt very serious. While these treatments are very effective, they can also be life-changing and have significant side effects, so I needed time to think about it.
The study found that while most MS treatments are associated with fewer infection-related hospitalizations, certain drugs may increase the risk of other health problems, including thyroid disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and, in some cases, acute liver injury.
A second opinion that changes everything
I decided to get a second opinion and that’s when everything changed.
I was recommended for a more specialized MRI, designed to detect multiple sclerosis. Rather than confirming the diagnosis, it rules it out entirely.
Instead, doctors found thyroid nodules. Later, an ultrasound revealed a 1.6-centimeter mass, and I underwent a fine-needle biopsy, which removed a small tissue sample for testing. The results showed that the possibility of malignant tumors was 50%.
Deep down I knew it was cancer.
On July 30, half of my thyroid was removed, and the pathology results revealed not one but two types of cancer.
One of them is follicular thyroid cancer, which accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of thyroid cancer cases in the United States, according to the American Thyroid Association. The other is papillary thyroid cancer, which is the most common form of the disease, accounting for about 70 to 80 percent of cases.
Thankfully, the cancer was contained within the nodule and had not spread to my lymph nodes. Surgery was all the treatment I needed and now I’m being monitored. I will be under observation for the rest of my life.
It’s unclear if my neurological symptoms are related. Thyroid cancer is often considered a “silent” cancer because it often has few or no symptoms.
But part of me also wonders if this is one of the reasons for some of the fatigue and weakness I experience.
What misdiagnosis taught me
The misdiagnosis left me with mixed emotions. I feel capable of trusting my instincts and seeking a second opinion, but also fearful that one wrong turn could easily send someone down a path they don’t need to take. I could have started taking medication that suppresses my immune system, but that could have serious consequences.
I hope my experience encourages others to advocate for themselves.
Everyone, male or female, should perform regular thyroid self-examinations. Take a moment to feel your neck and familiarize yourself with what’s normal for you. That way, if you notice a lump, swelling, or anything unusual, you’ll know something is wrong and can get it checked out.
Molly Smith, 37, is a mother of two from Charleston, South Carolina. She is the proud owner of a spa and is currently using her social media platform (@hallo_its_molly) to raise awareness for thyroid cancer.
All opinions expressed are the author’s own.
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