I experienced a whole spectrum of emotions including ones I didn't anticipate like guilt for having the 'good cancer.'

A chance discovery of a lump in her neck was the start of Emily’s diagnosis and treatment for thyroid cancer. In her new book ‘Sunshine: A Cancer Journey’, Emily charts the physical and emotional upheaval of her cancer journey, as well as the positives that have followed her life-changing diagnosis.  We asked Emily about her experiences and motivation to write her book.

What type of thyroid cancer were you diagnosed with?

The main one was follicular thyroid cancer (4.5 cm tumour) in one lobe, and papillary thyroid cancer in the second lobe.

How was it diagnosed?

It was by sheer luck. I went to my doctor for something completely unrelated and he noticed an abnormality in the symmetry of my neck whilst I was talking. Just before I saw him, I changed out of a high-neck jumper. It was a simple decision that changed everything. He referred me to my local hospital for an ultrasound. During the ultrasound, a mass was discovered on my thyroid. I had an inconclusive fine needle aspiration (FNA) in May 2023. I went on to have the right lobe and mass removed for pathology in June 2023. Three weeks later I was diagnosed with cancer.

What symptoms did it cause?

I had no obvious symptoms I was aware of, apart from a couple of dizzy spells walking my dog and other mild symptoms. I put these down to my busy life and perimenopausal age. I also had a slightly swollen neck which I had overlooked because I had gained weight. Looking back, I had several symptoms of hypothyroidism for years but dismissed them at the time.

What did your treatment involve?

Unfortunately, mine wasn't straightforward. After the second surgery to remove the remaining lobe in September 2023, whilst in recovery I developed a post-op bleed from a vein in my neck and had a critical bleed resulting in a third emergency operation and subsequent short stay in the ICU. Thankfully the bleed was not severe enough for me to be placed in an induced sleep to recover.

During the emergency surgery, I sustained vocal cord damage which led to vocal cord palsy. My voice was reduced to a whisper and I had some breathing and swallowing issues. I went back into the hospital and had a stabilising injection directly into the vocal cord two weeks later. This improved my breathing, voice and swallowing whilst the nerve slowly healed. Three weeks after my third operation I was told they found papillary cancer in the remaining lobe, though thankfully it was minimal. 

In November 2023, two months after my final surgery, I went on the Low Iodine Diet (LID) for two weeks before inpatient RAI treatment, staying in the hospital for three days for isolation and a further four days away from home. After a series of scans in December 2023 and repeat scans in August 2024, I was finally downgraded to low risk in November 2024. 

A cancer diagnosis is inevitably life-changing. How have you explored this in your new book?

The book is written with the same raw and emotionally relatable style my readers love, and it was important for me to include all the aspects of a cancer diagnosis and adjusting to living without my thyroid and the challenges that brings to everyday life. I have written about the tests, the medical procedures, my recovery and treatments, along with the emotional impact it all had on me.  I experienced a whole spectrum of emotions including ones I didn't anticipate like guilt for having the 'good cancer' and the sense of responsibility I felt to protect my loved ones from my fears.  Navigating my loved ones' emotions was equally challenging as working through my own. I have included a chapter at the end of the book with paragraphs written by those closest to me, because my cancer diagnosis really impacted my loved ones in different ways too. 

I felt very alone at times and I hope that in writing this book so candidly, readers will feel less isolated in their own experience. I hope it also shines a little light on the invisibility of many thyroid disease symptoms and hopefully validates some of their feelings about the lesser known symptoms many patients struggle with daily. Despite the subject matter, it is an uplifting story as I have included the positive impact my cancer diagnosis has had on my life.

What have you found the hardest part of your journey so far?

To the outside world, I didn't look unwell a lot of the time, and yet I was really struggling with a huge range of symptoms as I swung between both hypothyroidism in between surgeries, and then hyperthyroidism during my TSH suppression for almost 18 months. No one could see what I was feeling inside. I kept it to myself and felt very isolated. I often invalidated my own symptoms and was my own harshest critic. I felt I should be doing more, despite the debilitating symptoms. I had a treatable cancer, it was caught at the right time, but it was still cancer and it was still a very frightening, isolating and difficult period in my life. 

How are you feeling now?

Emotionally, I feel very grateful and optimistic about life. The diagnosis has changed my life in many ways and resulted in some really positive changes, including completing the book.

Physically, I am still trying to find that balance. My thyroid replacement medication dose is being progressively lowered to bring me within optimal ranges, but the lower dose has made me experience hypothyroidism symptoms again. It's a balancing act and as some patients will know, a standardised optimal range on a medical chart doesn't always make you feel your personal optimal best. 

What would you say to anyone on their own thyroid journey?

Please remember you are not alone on this journey. Reach out to the BTF for support and guidance. Join support groups, and don't be frightened to ask for help when needed. Above all, give yourself grace as you navigate through diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of your condition. Thyroid disease can be very challenging, and many of its symptoms may seem invisible to others, but it can be very impactful on your quality of life and it's important to know you are not alone, and that support is available to you.

Emily’s book, ‘Sunshine: A Cancer Journey’ by Emily J. Johsnon, was published in January 2025 and is available in paperback and e-book on Amazon. It can be read on Kindle Unlimited. 

Further information and support

BTF thyroid cancer resources

Macmillan Cancer Support