I Became a Writer After Being Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer

"How are you feeling?"

My older sister asked me as I was about to undergo a contrast-enhanced scan.

"This is kind of fun."

It still didn’t feel real that I had thyroid cancer, so I answered briefly.

I’ve been spending my days with a subtle sense of anxiety. Then I found another source of endorphins.

Last Friday, around 2 p.m., for some reason, I searched for the Brunch platform. I suddenly wanted to publish an essay based on my own story. I submitted my writer application and kept revising it throughout Saturday and Sunday. I spent the entire weekend just searching about Brunch.

I tried to stay calm since I knew I might not get accepted, but it wasn’t easy. Another wave of dopamine had hit me.

Then Monday came. I had almost forgotten about it when I got a notification on my phone. It was an alert—and an email—saying I had been accepted as a Brunch writer.

Yes, I’m one of those people you hear about—the ones who get accepted on the first try. Me.

Before getting approved, I told my sister,

"I’m going to become a writer."

She responded with a casual, “Just give it a try.”

"Now I have to do something."

I told her the news first—that I had become a Brunch writer. She was surprised and couldn’t quite believe it. Honestly, neither could I.

After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I poured my emotions into my personal blog. I wrote about how it felt to go to the hospital that day and everything that happened. Then I thought, “If I publish on Brunch, maybe it could lead to a small opportunity related to publishing.”

My goal was clear, and I took action. And now, I’ve earned the meaningful title of “writer.”

I had known about Brunch before, but somehow forgot about it over time. There are so many people sharing their stories there. I didn’t originally want to write about my thyroid cancer, but somehow, that’s what happened. And in the end, it became the most honest reflection of who I am—my everyday life.

In the past, I vaguely dreamed of becoming a writer, without any clear idea of what I would write about. It stayed in my heart like a faded photograph. And now, a joyful opportunity has finally come to me.

Is this why people say timing is everything?

After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, my days had become heavy and gloomy. But this opportunity brought me energy, courage, and a sense of possibility. I’m grateful to Brunch for that.

“Brunch.”
I used to just enjoy it as a reader—never imagining that one day I would be writing and publishing my own stories there.

I hope my writing can offer even a small sense of comfort and connection to others who are going through something similar.

Nice to meet you.
I’m a Brunch writer—
and a thyroid cancer patient.