Sometimes all it takes is a simple twist of fate to save your life. That’s what one medical student recently learned while attending a class last year. Little did she know that her practice on thyroids during class would become the catalyst for her future.

Sally Rohan, 27, was attending class in New Jersey, where she and classmates were studying the intricacies of thyroid examinations. Her friend was practicing on Sally’s neck, taking a close look at her thyroid. But Sally noticed something was extremely different on her thyroid.

What’s wrong with mine, mine’s bumpy; there’s something weird here,” she recalled asking.

Intrigued and concerned, she promptly called her teacher over to take a look at it. When the teacher observed the ultrasound, she noted that Sally had nodules on her thyroid, but said that oftentimes that was usually just incidental, and ended up being nothing concerning.

Medical student Sally Rohan made a surprising discovery during class at med school. Photo courtesy of Rohan

But ever cautious, Sally attempted to see a doctor. However, since she lived in a different state than her primary care doctor (due to attending school), as well as losing her parent’s insurance coverage due to age, she faced multiple delays in getting seen. However, blood work was ordered by her doctor in California, and showed normal thyroid levels. 

She had hoped to get her own insurance but it was delayed. “I had a plan for how to get onto New Jersey health insurance, but I didn’t realize how long it was going to take,” Sally said. Finally insured, more than a year later, Sally was finally able to have her thyroid looked at in person – and that professional ultrasound confirmed that she had thyroid cancer.

The cancer had also spread to her cervical lymph nodes on both sides. Sally said in a video posted on Instagram, that she was “pretty overwhelmed… it was a lot to go through.” However, amidst the challenges, she found a silver lining. “If I have to have cancer, first of all, I am glad it is me and not someone else,” she said.

But also, if I have to have cancer, I am going to learn as much from it as I can and use this however I can to become a better doctor.”

Sally Rohan shows off her healing scar after her cancerous thyroid was removed. Photo courtesy of Rohan

The subsequent surgery to remove the cancer from her thyroid took place on December 6. Sally, now in recovery, shared her experience on Instagram. “I have very minimal pain, I am able to use my voice and walk around. The doctor said I am not allowed to run or exercise for two weeks after my surgery, so I am following those rules. I should be set to return to medical school right after winter break, in January,” Sally said.

She said that while she isn’t fully free of the disease yet, she is cautiously optimistic for the future.

“I don’t think anyone wants to get my hopes up,” Sally said. “When they were doing the lateral neck dissection to get the cancer out of my lymph nodes, they found more than they thought they would, which was unexpected.”

But through it all, Sally believes that her experience will help her better serve her patients once she is a doctor.

“I think it’ll give me a lot more empathy,” she said. “I think it’s making me a more empathetic person in general, but also as a future physician, definitely.”

Watch below for a look at her shocking diagnosis and following treatment.

Sources: Independent | CNN