A teacher from Ohio passed away at the age of 30 after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Ashley Wyss was only 21 years old when she was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer. However, she did not let the doctors tell her the results of her treatment as she didn’t want to live in fear.
It was in 2011 when Ashley noticed a lump on her neck. She then underwent surgery to have 42 lymph nodes and her thyroid removed.
Ashley said of her diagnosis: “It was definitely a shock, but I felt like I needed to be the strong one for my parents and friends since I was so young.”
But in 2013, her disease returned and she had 20 lymph nodes removed. After a year, she was told that cancer had already spread to her lungs. In 2015, doctors were shocked to find over 100 tumors in her lungs!
The teacher said that chemotherapy left her feeling ‘miserable’ and made her sleep for extended periods of time.
Throughout her treatment, she didn’t ask the doctors about her prognosis as she wanted to live without fear.
In 2016, she tied the knot with her partner, and then she volunteered to try a new drug called Loxo 292.
Her tumors shrank after trying the drug but cancer eventually returned.
A tumor was found in her spine and broke through a part surrounded by the spinal cord.
Ashley underwent major surgery to remove the huge tumor and half of her vertebrate. Two rods were then inserted into her spine.
The optimistic teacher continued using Loxo292 and returned to her job.
She also started a small business as a health and fitness influencer.She said at that time: “I believe that my positive attitude and love of fitness has helped me get to where I am today.
“I wholeheartedly believe that without my positivity, I would have let cancer win a long time ago.”
She continued: “I’ve never asked what my prognosis is, and it’s not something I will ask. I’m all about living in the present and taking each day as it comes. I’d rather not worry about the future and the “what ifs!”
Ashley added: “I surround myself with positive people and try to focus on the positives. I allow myself time to process and feel sad about a situation, but I don’t allow myself to stay in that headspace.
“With everything that has happened, I could easily be in a really dark place.”
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Replaced!