A woman has shared her disbelief after discovering she had cancer following three years of exhibiting a clear symptom.
At 26, Taylor Scheib noticed a noticeable growth on her neck.
As time passed, the growth became more pronounced, prompting Taylor to seek medical advice due to her growing concern.
In a video shared by The Patient Story on YouTube, she expressed: “As soon as I tell someone I have this huge lump on my neck they’re like wow I never even noticed it before, but I look at it, stare at it every day, and I also can feel it.”
Over those three years, Taylor was reassured by medical professionals that the lump was benign and not a cause for concern.
However, this perception was shattered after one particular test result following her decision to remove the 5.7cm mass from the left side of her thyroid.
“How did I let this go on for so long?” she reflected. “And that’s because multiple doctors told me it was nothing.”
She continued: “What happened was I thought it was benign, I thought it was nothing.”
“I would just look at pictures of myself and think oh my gosh this thing is so huge it’s getting so big and it’s embarrassing,” Taylor recalled.
In an emotional moment, Taylor said: “I had to call my mom and tell her, you just beat cancer, but now I have it.”
She noted that cancer is not new to her family, mentioning that both her mother and grandmother had previously battled the disease.
Her Grandma Connie had succumbed to breast cancer before Taylor was born.
Despite this family history, being diagnosed with cancer was still a profound shock after three years of believing it was benign.
Throughout those years, Taylor shared on Instagram that she underwent various tests, including two ultrasounds and blood work annually, each time receiving assurance that no follow-up was necessary.
Ultimately, she opted for the removal of the mass, believing it was benign but uncomfortable due to its growth.
On April 28, 2025, she received a pathology report diagnosing oncocytic carcinoma of the thyroid gland.
Fortunately, Taylor explained that the cancer is not highly invasive, and she remains optimistic about its containment despite the delayed diagnosis.
She expressed: “I have an incredible support system with my husband, family, and friends … and I am truly positive I will be okay.”