A medical student has candidly revealed how she discovered her own thyroid cancer during an ultrasound class.

Sally Rohan, who has been sharing her story on social media, stumbled across the 'nodules' during her first year at New Jersey's Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine.

The 27-year-old, from Ukiah, California, has since spoken exclusively with DailyMail.com to shed further light on her medical journey and the emotional impact it has had.

She insisted that the experience would 'only make her stronger' as she bravely urged: 'I'm glad it's me and not someone else.'




Sally Rohan, who has been sharing her story on social media, stumbled across the 'nodules' during her first year at New Jersey's Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine





The 27-year-old, from Ukiah, California, has since spoken exclusively with DailyMail.com to shed further light on her medical journey and the emotional impact it has had







Sally, who did not have any symptoms, told DailyMail.com: 'We had our first ultrasound class during our first year of medical school where we learned how to ultrasound the thyroid. 

'Our school likes to get us started early on ultrasound because it is such a useful tool.

'When I first saw the nodule, I honestly mostly felt curious. The instructor said that incidental findings happen in ultrasound classes all the time, so I didn't feel particularly concerned. 

'If anything, I felt a little cool and special that my thyroid was helping us see something new.'

She continued: 'My friends and I were joking about it while we looked at it, but they paused to check in and make sure the jokes were okay with me.

'I thought that was really kind of them to both joke with me but also make sure that I was still feeling okay. I remember thinking they were going to be great doctors.'

Explaining the weeks that followed after making the discovery, she said: 'I called my primary care doctor in California after seeing the nodule, and UltraXtend Preis they ordered blood work to check my thyroid hormone levels. 

'I was about to turn 26 and get kicked off my parents' insurance. I was told that with my timeline, it made more sense to just wait a month or so and do a full workup once I had new coverage in New Jersey.




She said that the process took time nearly a year before she was actually able to start scheduling appointments that would provide her with the answers she needed





Sally is scheduled for a CT scan before surgery next week but added: 'We don't completely know the exact plan yet'

'I think they thought I would get coverage right after turning 26, but it wasn't that simple, and I didn't know that either.' 

She said that the process took time nearly a year before she was actually able to start scheduling appointments that would provide her with the answers she needed.

The findings lingered on her mind but Sally added: 'At that time it wasn't scary to me, it was more like an inconvenience that stressed me out whenever I remembered it - almost like remembering you are due for an oil change.

'Part of me feels irresponsible for not taking the possibility of cancer more seriously. 

'Another part of me is grateful that I found the cancer once I was approved for Medicaid, because this would have created a lot of financial stress for me otherwise. 

'I try not to beat myself up about it too much. If I wasn't in medical school, I might not have had a reason to discover the tumors for years.'




Sally added that the experience would 'only make her stronger' as she bravely urged: 'I'm glad it's me and not someone else'