Woman told her cancer is terminal, what she does next is inspirational
Line Young Peteri was just 37 when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Following surgery and treatment, doctors found she had a rare, incurable form of the disease.
“When I was diagnosed, I spent around a year in bed and cried. It was like I was almost waiting to die,” Peteri told Newsweek.
The devastating diagnosis of RAI-resistant thyroid cancer, which doesn’t respond to radioactive iodine treatment, set her on a heartbreaking yet inspiring journey of resilience and strength. All this after 21 tumors were discovered in her upper chest, lower neck, and armpit.
“I thought I wasn’t going to make it,” she recalled, adding that the fear of death spurred her on to make a bucket list.
Ten years on, Peteri continues to fight cancer and shares her inspiring journey to encourage others to monitor changes in their bodies, proving that an illness does not define her.
Line Young Peteri
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the thyroid gland.
The thyroid produces hormones that regulate metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can cause a fast heartbeat, weight loss, and anxiety, while too little (hypothyroidism) leads to fatigue and weight gain.
Line Young Peteri
It has two main cell types: follicular cells, which make thyroid hormones, and C cells, which produce calcitonin. Most thyroid growths are benign, but some can be malignant and spread to other parts of the body.
After giving birth to her second child, Peteri started running—but she wasn’t losing any weight. A friend suggested she gets her thyroid checked and that is when she received the devastating news.
Line Young Peteri
The Online Cancer Community
The stories of others in the online cancer community inspired her to make a life-changing decision.
“I noticed some people were giving up and others were determined to beat it,” the 47-year-old told Newsweek: “I decided if I am going to go, I am going to go in a rain of fire.”
Since then, the business owner living, in London, has undergone six surgeries and 28 rounds of radiation—leaving her with second-degree burns and damaging her left lung to just 60 percent capacity.
In total, she has had 38 tumors, but despite these challenges, she has become physically stronger than ever.
Finding Strength Through Fitness
“I’ve completed 20 half marathons, and my most recent hobby is HYROX,” she says. In May, the mom-of-two competed in her first HYROX fitness race—a challenging competition combining running and functional workouts. Shortly after, she participated in two more races in one day in Milan, Italy, followed by two additional events in Paris, completed one day apart.
Peteri wasn’t concerned with speed. “I am not a fast person, so I knew I wasn’t going to win for fastness, but I wanted to win for being resilient,” she said. “Even if I feel like everything is exploding in my body, I will never ever stop.”
Today, Peteri has found strength in the physical challenges of HYROX, and training has helped her manage mood swings and find greater balance in her life. She proudly shares that her strengths include lunges, pushing a 225lb sled, and burpees, showing that resilience in the face of cancer has transformed her into a powerhouse of endurance.
Peteri’s journey is a powerful reminder that strength isn’t just about physical ability—it’s about mental toughness, perseverance, and the unyielding will to keep fighting, no matter the odds.
Line Young Peteri
On November 11, she shared a video of her journey on Instagram (@lineyoung), stressing that she’s not sharing her health story to garner pity but to raise awareness.
In the caption, she wrote: “I do like to raise awareness—so people keep an eye on changes in their bodies, and to show that even through sickness, pain, or struggle, it’s possible to take back control and build strength. Recovery becomes faster, and pain turns from fear into just an indicator.”
“Mind blowing! Nice job out there !” commented @hyroxfr.
Peteri told Newsweek: “I feel like there’s a bias in society towards women in their 40s and people who are sick. It’s like there’s no need for you anymore.
“I am close to 50, and I feel like I am worthy and still have a lot to give. Life doesn’t just stop when you get older.”
Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
