Deborah Terkely’s Health Journey

Deborah Terkely has always prided herself on being the picture of health.

She exercised regularly, maintained a balanced diet, and consistently kept up with her health screenings. This diligence was partly driven by a family history of thyroid issues. Both of her sisters deal with conditions related to an underactive thyroid—one has Hashimoto’s disease, where the immune system attacks the thyroid. Because of this, Deborah made it a point to request thyroid tests during her routine blood work.

Each time, her results came back within the normal range.

So, when her world suddenly changed in late 2022, thyroid cancer didn’t even cross her mind.

“I’d always been healthy,” the now 42-year-old shared. “I never had fatigue or puffiness like my sisters. My blood tests were fine. I just didn’t think it would happen to me.”

At that time, Deborah was 39, running a natural skincare and soap business with her husband while raising their two young boys in Narre Warren, located in Melbourne’s southeast. Life was bustling but satisfying. She described herself as vibrant, social, and constantly on the move.

Then one day—well, it was a regular day—she experienced a migraine. It followed a stressful family argument, and, honestly, it felt different from any headache she had before. The pain was so severe that she had to stay in bed for several days, hardly eating or drinking. When it finally subsided, she thought she was in the clear, but the pain morphed into a constant headache coupled with intense neck discomfort.

“I don’t get headaches,” she remarked. “So when this didn’t go away, I just knew something wasn’t right.”

Initially, her long-time doctor eased her worries, suggesting it was probably stress or age-related and prescribed some painkillers. However, Deborah felt deep down that something more was amiss.

Those medications didn’t really help.

“I just had this unsettling feeling that something was wrong,” she recalled.

Following her instincts, she sought a second opinion and insisted on further testing, which led to an MRI to investigate her headaches.

What it showed was unexpected: a suspicious mass in her neck.

At first, she tried to remain calm. A biopsy was scheduled, yet waiting for those results felt agonizingly long.

“I was calling constantly to check if they had news,” she admitted. “I just needed to know.”

The call finally came after a family dinner, but it was a telehealth appointment with a doctor she didn’t know well, as her usual GP was unavailable.

“He told me, ‘I’m sorry, your biopsy is positive for cancer,’” Deborah recounted, and immediately, her thoughts went to her children.

“I just thought, am I going to die? Will I be there for my kids?”

At that time, her boys were just eight and five.

“My first question was, ‘What do I do now?’ I had no clue what comes next in a situation like this,” she reflected.

In a matter of weeks, Deborah found herself in the hospital for surgery. In January 2023, doctors removed her entire thyroid along with lymph nodes from the left side of her neck. Out of 70 nodes taken, 20 contained cancer cells, indicating the disease had already spread locally.

The Importance of the Thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland located in the neck that plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, and hormonal balance.

When the thyroid is not functioning properly, symptoms can include fatigue, weight fluctuations, mood changes, hair loss, and sensitivity to temperature.

Both underactive and overactive thyroid conditions are common, especially in women.

Throughout her ordeal, Deborah faced a tough recovery. The surgery lasted more than six hours, and after, she struggled more than anticipated. Pain and limited mobility lingered, particularly in her left shoulder, which developed bursitis. Simple tasks became challenging, and she heavily depended on her husband during this tough time.

Since the cancer had spread, she also faced the need for radioactive iodine therapy, requiring her to stay away from her children for safety reasons during the treatment.

“That was extremely hard,” she reflected. “I was home, but they couldn’t hug me, and they didn’t fully grasp why.”

By mid-2023, the news she had longed for arrived: she was cancer-free. Still, the journey of recovery felt slow and unpredictable.

Before surgery, Deborah took it upon herself to research ways to support her body. She spent hours learning about immune system support, wanting to ensure she was as strong as possible going into surgery.

She started taking several supplements, like black seed oil, turkey tail mushroom extract, and milk thistle, believing these could help her manage the stress of recovery.

Black seed oil is commonly used in complementary health for its anti-inflammatory properties, while turkey tail mushrooms are traditionally known for boosting the immune system.

“I didn’t want to waste time,” she noted. “I wanted proven methods that could really support my body.”

Some products required sourcing from overseas, while others were available locally, costing anywhere from $20 to $60. She integrated them into her routine leading up to and after surgery.

Additionally, Deborah’s family business created a natural skin serum to aid in healing her surgical scar, which provided a significant emotional boost as she watched her body heal.

“Seeing something positive was helpful; it reassured me my body was mending,” she said.

Eventually, her strength returned, and she hit a point where she could feel the improvement.

Now, Deborah is back to exercising and enjoying life with her family. However, her experience has shifted her priorities.

“Before, work was everything. Now, family comes first. Emails can wait,” she stated.

Even so, cancer remains a part of her thoughts.

“It never really leaves your mind,” she acknowledged. “You always wonder if it could return, so I focus on staying positive and caring for myself.”

Deborah feels passionately about raising awareness regarding thyroid cancer, which often isn’t spoken about openly.

“Nobody discusses thyroid cancer,” she emphasized. “I had no idea it existed until my diagnosis.”

Many Australians may have undiagnosed thyroid issues, with symptoms commonly mistaken for stress or lifestyle changes.

Deborah urges people, particularly women, to talk to their doctors about thyroid testing if they feel something is off.

“A simple blood test and ultrasound provide a wealth of information,” she advised.

Looking back, she reflects that the hardest moment was hearing the word cancer.

“The shock and fear—it was terrifying not knowing if I’d be okay or be there for my family. That was the worst part,” she said.

But she now feels gratitude outweighs the fear.

“I’m thankful for my health and that something positive emerged from such a traumatic time. Now, I can support others through similar experiences,” she concluded.

Most importantly, she’s thankful to simply be here—healthy, present, and able to watch her boys grow up.