Marisol's Journey to Beating Pediatric Thyroid Cancer

When Marisol’s mom, Josefina, noticed a growing bump on the right side of her neck, they thought it might just be an agitated muscle from her avid cheerleading. In September 2022, however, the care team at Lurie Children’s Outpatient Center in Westchester ordered a biopsy of the lump that revealed Marisol had papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer seen in children.  

“Finding out I had cancer was honestly devastating. When you are 15 years old, you think of having fun in high school with your friends, enjoying the sports and activities you participate in, but I realized soon after diagnosis that wasn’t going to be the case for me,” said Marisol. “I remember just feeling scared and hopeless.” 

While thyroid cancer isn’t common in children and the cause is unknown, children with a lump in the lower front of the neck, swollen lymph nodes or other symptoms of concern should be seen by a doctor and, if recommended, may be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist. Early action and treatment can effectively treat thyroid cancer.

Soon after diagnosis, Marisol underwent a total thyroidectomy procedure. Experts from Lurie Children’s Pediatric Thyroid Program, one of the premier centers in the country providing care and treatment for babies through young adults with thyroid problems and diseases, removed her thyroid gland, a bow-tie-shaped gland at the bottom of the neck. This gland is important because it makes hormones that help control growth, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight. It’s attached to the front of the trachea, and near the nerves that control the vocal cords and voice box. The thyroidectomy surgery is the initial treatment for this condition, and it should be done by an experienced surgeon who regularly cares for individuals with thyroid cancer.    

The Pediatric Thyroid Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team including specialists in pediatric endocrinology, pediatric otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, radiology, pathology, oncology, pediatric surgery and genetics. 

“We provide a multidisciplinary team approach to individualize patient care. Pediatric thyroid cancer has an excellent prognosis, yet we need to carefully consider each patient’s disease process and provide an evidence-based care approach. We intend for the children we care for to live full, healthy lives and not develop long-term complications from the treatment,” says Jami Josefson, MD,  Endocrinology. 

“After my surgery, I started taking medications that I’ll take for the rest of my life. They help keep my hormone levels normal. I also routinely have blood work and ultrasounds of my neck,” said Marisol. “Unfortunately, in December 2022, we learned the cancer had not been completely treated by the surgery and spread to my lungs. I underwent radioiodine treatment and then another surgery to remove all my affected lymph nodes. It was then the sun finally started to come out and to this day I’m still getting positive ultrasound results. My hormone levels are also back to normal.” 

Hope for the Future 

As an avid cheerleader, Marisol is back to competitive cheering – even winning the 2024 national summit with her team in Orlando, Florida. And she’s not stopping or letting cancer hold her back; she also obtained her cheer goal to participate in the National Cheerleader Association’s nationals in Texas for the first time.     

She is grateful for her cheerleading family and, above everything, her parents and siblings for helping her through this trying time. “Being diagnosed with cancer did not stop me from cheer. After my surgeries, I would be in the gym observing my team and even helping them to be the best they could be. When I was cleared to go back to cheer, I came back with a bang and courage to make my team and coaches proud,” said Marisol. “My parents and siblings have been my rock. I’m so grateful for my family. And Dr. Josefson and Dr. Rastatter mean the absolute world to me. They are my literal lifesavers.” 

“Marisol’s diagnosis of thyroid cancer has not stopped her from pursuing her goals — this is our expectation for all of our patients,” says Dr. Josefson.  

In August, Marisol will start her senior year of high school. She hopes to attend UIC or Northwestern University and pursue a career in orthodontics.  

Learn more about Lurie Children's Pediatric Thyroid Program.

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