Mother of Two Battles Cancer After Years of Dismissed Symptoms

A mother of two, Tameika McBride, has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after years of her symptoms being dismissed by medical professionals. Her journey began in 2015 when she first sought medical help for minor health issues that were consistently attributed to anxiety.

Tameika, 30, from Adelaide, Australia, felt something was wrong with her health but struggled to get the appropriate responses from doctors. Despite multiple visits and clear blood tests, she was repeatedly told there was nothing to worry about. It was not until she experienced a significant change in her appearance—specifically a large swelling in her neck shortly after giving birth to her son—that she insisted on further investigation.

On August 2023, Tameika noticed her thyroid was visibly enlarged for the first time. She described it as “a tender, sore thyroid on the left side that I could literally see in the mirror.” Following an ultrasound, she was told there was “something,” but not enough information was available, leaving her in limbo while the swelling subsided.

However, in November 2024, Tameika discovered a swollen lymph node on the left side of her neck. Initially reassured by her doctor that it was likely harmless, she returned for further evaluation when the node persisted. The subsequent ultrasound revealed the shocking truth: she had cancer. “It was overwhelming and heartbreaking,” she recalled.

Following her diagnosis, Tameika underwent a CT scan and biopsy that confirmed thyroid cancer. She was scheduled for a thyroidectomy, a procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland, and a left modified radical neck dissection to remove cancerous lymph nodes in April 2024. During this surgery, doctors removed 34 lymph nodes, with 12 testing positive for cancer.

In addition to cancer, Tameika was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that adversely affects the thyroid. The tests also revealed that her cancer was a rare and aggressive variant, having spread further than initially thought.

In June 2024, Tameika began radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment to eliminate remaining thyroid cells. This required her to isolate in the hospital for 24 hours, away from her young children. “My daughter, who is four, knows I’m sick and that I have cancer, but she doesn’t know the extent,” Tameika explained, highlighting the emotional toll on her family.

Despite the challenges, Tameika continues to battle her illness with ongoing RAI treatment and high-dose Vitamin C infusions recommended by an integrative medicine doctor. Unfortunately, these treatments are not covered by her insurance and cost approximately £150 per week. To help alleviate the financial burden, Tameika has initiated an online fundraiser, which has raised nearly £3,500 to date.

Tameika’s story sheds light on the importance of patient advocacy and the need for healthcare professionals to thoroughly investigate persistent symptoms. As she navigates her treatment, she hopes her experience will encourage others to seek answers and not accept dismissive responses regarding their health.