I didn't doubt the doctors for a second when they told me I had multiple sclerosis (MS), a long-term autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
It made total sense. I had been suffering from muscle weakness, extreme fatigue that no amount of sleep could improve, dizziness and headaches, all of which can be early signs of MS.
The symptoms began in February 2025. One morning, I woke up and everything was spinning. I felt like I needed to vomit, but as I ran to the bathroom, my vision started fading until suddenly everything went black.
I passed out. When I came around, I was vomiting. An ambulance took me to the emergency room, where doctors ordered a brain MRI because they were concerned I may have hit my head when I collapsed.
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Why Doctors Thought I Had MS
The scan found lesions, which can be associated with MS and may cause symptoms including dizziness, balance problems, numbness and tingling.
Over the following year, I underwent all kinds of testing, including a spinal tap, a procedure in which a doctor uses a needle to remove a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid, the liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. The fluid is then tested for signs of disease.
My results didn't show any abnormalities, but another MRI found the lesions were still there. They weren't growing or multiplying, they were just there.
At that point, I was on board with my neurologist's assessment. Then, in February this year, he confirmed I was in the early stages of MS and suggested starting disease-modifying therapy.
Suddenly, the diagnosis felt very serious. While the treatments can be highly effective, they can also be life-changing and come with significant side effects, so I wanted time to think.
Research has found that while most MS treatments are linked to fewer infection-related hospitalizations, some medications may carry an increased risk of other health problems, including thyroid disorders, liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and, in some cases, acute liver injury.
The Second Opinion That Changed Everything
I decided to get a second opinion and that's when everything changed.
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I was referred for a more specialized MRI designed to detect MS. Instead of confirming the diagnosis, it ruled it out entirely.
Instead, the doctor found a thyroid nodule. An ultrasound later revealed a 1.6-centimeter lump, and I underwent a fine-needle biopsy, where a small tissue sample is extracted for testing. The results showed a 50 percent chance of malignancy.
In my gut, I knew it was cancer.
Half of my thyroid was removed on July 30 and the pathology results revealed not one but two types of cancer.
One was 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 was papillary thyroid cancer, the most common form of the disease, accounting for around 70 to 80 percent of cases.
Thankfully, the cancer was contained within the nodules and had not spread to my lymph nodes. Surgery was all the treatment I needed and now I am being monitored. I will be under observation for the rest of my life.
It isn't clear whether my neurological symptoms were connected. Thyroid cancer is often considered a "silent" cancer because it typically causes few or no symptoms.
But part of me wonders whether it may have contributed to some of the fatigue and weakness I was experiencing.
What Being Misdiagnosed Taught Me
The misdiagnosis left me with mixed emotions. I felt empowered for trusting my instincts and seeking a second opinion, but also scared by how easily one wrong turn could send someone down a path they never needed to take. I could have started medication that suppressed my immune system, and that could have had serious consequences.
I want my experience to encourage others to advocate for themselves.
And everyone, both men and women, should perform regular thyroid self-checks. Take the time to feel your neck and become familiar with what is normal for you. That way, if you ever notice a lump, swelling or anything unusual, you'll know something isn't right and can get it checked.
Molly Smith is a 37-year-old mom 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 of thyroid cancer.
All views expressed are the author's own.
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