“Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis: The Moment a 900 Won Bill Changed Everything”

 "I'll charge you 900 won."

The staff said it kindly as I paid for my hospital visit.

Before being admitted, I went through a series of tests—blood work, an ECG, a pulmonary function test, X-ray, and CT scan.
The day I came back to hear the results, I paid the bill. It was only 900 won.

It should have been at least 20,000 won.
That was the moment it truly hit me—I had become a patient.

The fine-needle biopsy confirmed it: thyroid cancer.
It seemed my condition had been registered as a severe illness under national health insurance. Even my previous hospital bills were reduced.

Should I be grateful for this situation?

"Try digging the ground—does money come out?"
My older sister joked, and I nodded. Every penny matters now.

After days of rain, the sky remained gray.
The cherry blossoms that were once in full bloom had fallen to the ground.
Will they return just as beautifully next year?

My surgery date has been set.
I still haven’t told my parents. Now I have one week left.

I’m not exactly sad, but sometimes my emotions soften.
Then I quickly pull myself together, telling myself it's nothing.

They say thyroid cancer is a "good cancer" with a high survival rate.
But it’s not easy to accept that when it's your own body.
Something inside me has to be removed.
I can live without it, but I would rather have it—like everyone else.

"Do you have any questions?"
The doctor asked during the consultation.

I had many questions, but I chose not to ask.
The real answers would only come after surgery and pathology results.
I didn’t want to say meaningless things.

So I decided to trust the doctor.
Otherwise, I would only suffer more in this moment.

"No, I don’t."

There were no unusual findings.
Now, all that’s left is the surgery.

It’s been over a month since I started my medical leave.
I was supposed to return to work at Coupang, but now I’m facing surgery instead.

They say life returns to normal after the procedure.
Many people like me go back to work and continue their lives.

But how should I explain this situation to my workplace?
My head aches just thinking about it.

Since I’m on medical leave, I expected no salary.
And in reality, there wasn’t any.

But when I checked my March payslip, I was surprised.
A small amount had been deposited—59,360 won after deductions.

It was unexpected, and I felt grateful to Coupang.

Now, I sit alone in Starbucks, writing this.
My mind is complicated, yet my day looks no different from anyone else’s.

I used to be an outsider when I saw people who were sick.
That was true.

Now that I’ve become one of them, it feels both strange and sad.

Still, I think it’s better that I’m the one who’s sick in my family.
I’m still young, and I can get through this.

I’ll be okay.