We recently met Morgan at our Care+Wear photoshoot and were blown away with her story. We want to share Morgan’s journey with you in hopes you find her as inspirational as we do!
Morgan is a yoga and mindfulness instructor, and a thyroid cancer survivor. In 2018, at the very young age of 21, Morgan was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, atype of cancer that starts in the thyroid gland. While performing a routine scan to monitor herhypothyroidism, doctors discovered a node that had tripled in size! The only good thyroid tissue Morgan had along with her lymph nodes was completely covered with cancer. She learned the following year that she was battling the diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid cancer, a more aggressive form of the cancer.
We interviewed Morgan to understand more about her journey and the advice she would provide to others battling cancer.
What has your treatment journey been like?
My treatment journey has had so many ups and downs. Being someone young with cancer has given me a lot of life lessons at an early age. I think it’s given me the advantage of seeing who is real and who is fake when things get “real” or “heavy” in life. It has challenged my relationship with my body in tremendous ways, but has also taught me to listen to my body honestly.
What do you wish you knew after being diagnosed?
I wish I knew how many other people felt the same way I did. Being diagnosed in your 20’s is really hard. Finding comfort in people my age who also feel weird about their body, how they look, or their diagnosis – having that community and being surrounded by like-minded people is necessary, especially when you are battling a scary disease like cancer.
What guidance can you give to someone going through a similar treatment?
If you’re going through cancer, please know you can do it. I know everyone says you’re strong and you’re going to be okay. But please remember it’s okay to feel scared and sad. Toxic positivity is just as bad as negativity. It’s okay to feel! It’s okay to cry! It’s okay to be angry and scared! We have been taught from a young age to fear cancer. We’ve been taught to raise money for it so we can research and feel less helpless. Your fear is valid. If it’s thyroid cancer, don’t let anyone invalidate you by telling you that you have the “best” cancer or “good” cancer.There is no good cancer!
What advice can you give to a friend or family member who wants to support a loved one?
To friends and family… just be there. Just being by their side consistently is what counts and shows. Appointments, scans, procedures, and surgeries are some of the scariest moments of our lives. Just being there and showing up is most important. There’s never anything “right” to say. Just know your physical presence when someone is feeling physically helpless goes farther than you could ever imagine. Allow them to feel their feelings and remind them that you are there for them and they can and will fight this.
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