A mother of two from Greater Manchester says doctors repeatedly dismissed her symptoms as being due to being a 'busy mum', until she paid for private scans that ultimately led to a thyroid cancer diagnosis. Kerri Laird, 35, began experiencing extreme fatigue, hair loss, heart palpitations, difficulty swallowing, and lumps on her neck in June 2025.
Despite visiting her GP six times in June and July, she says her symptoms were attributed to a virus or her children 'picking up germs'. One doctor reportedly told her that her swollen lymph nodes were a result of her children, aged six and nine, bringing home germs.
In late July, Ms Laird paid for a private ultrasound scan, which revealed multiple thyroid nodules and suspicious lymph nodes. She returned to her GP and was referred for a lymph node biopsy, which came back clear. Doctors advised a repeat scan in six months, but Ms Laird says the pain worsened, leading her to visit her GP another 12 times.
In December 2025, she paid for a second private ultrasound, which showed that the nodules and lymph nodes had enlarged. After further referrals, an ENT specialist performed a thyroid biopsy in early February 2026. On February 16, Ms Laird was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Ms Laird, who has since had her thyroid removed, said she felt 'relieved' to finally have a diagnosis after months of uncertainty. She now encourages others to 'trust their gut' and 'push for answers' if they feel something is wrong.
