Teacher who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 21 and had 100 tumors in her lungs - but refused to find out her prognosis because she wanted to live without fear - dies at 30

A 30-year-old Ohio teacher who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was just 21 years old and refused to let doctors tell her the prognosis because she did not want to live in fear died on Sunday.

Ashley Wyss of Clintonville, Ohio, who at one point during the course of her illness had 100 tumors in her lungs, died at home while surrounded by family, according to an online obituary.

In 2011, Ashley woke up one morning to find a lump at the front of her neck, according to the Mirror.

An ultrasound led to a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer. Doctors then performed surgery to remove her thyroid and 42 lymph nodes.

Ashley Wyss of Clintonville, Ohio, died in her home on Sunday, according to an online obituary. She was 30 years old

Wyss was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was just 21 years old and refused to let doctors tell her the prognosis because she did not want to live in fear

At one point during the course of her illness, doctors found 100 tumors in her lungs

'It was definitely a shock, but I felt like I needed to be the strong one for my parents and friends since I was so young,’ she said of her diagnosis.

Ashley appeared to be cancer free, but in 2013 the disease resurfaced. She had 20 more lymph nodes removed, half of which were cancerous.

The next year, the cancer spread from her neck to her lungs. By 2015, doctors discovered more than 100 tumors in her lungs.

At age 25, Ashley was told that she needed to start a regimen of potent oral chemotherapy since the tumors in her lungs were interfering with her breathing.

The strength of the treatment meant that she would likely need further care for the rest of her life.

Wyss was determined to lead a normal life despite her illness. She taught, had a side business as a fitness influencer, and married Ryan Wyss (pictured with his wife)

Wyss was one of the first 20 people in the world to try a clinical cancer drug known as Loxo 292

She underwent several operations during the course of her treatment, including one in which doctors removed half of her vertebrae after a tumor was found on her spinal column

Ashley said the potency of the chemotherapy left her feeling ‘miserable’ and that she needed to sleep for most of the day.

But throughout her treatment she refused to ask doctors about her prognosis.

Despite the grim news, Ashley kept on living. In 2016, she married her husband, Ryan.

In 2017, she volunteered to try a new drug, Loxo 292. Ashley was among the first 20 people in the world who were chosen as candidates to try what was at the time a clinical drug.

The drug was initially effective, as her tumors shrank. But the cancer soon returned.

One tumor found in Ashley’s spine caused her vertebrae to fracture. It also broke through an area surrounded by spinal cord.

Doctors then performed major surgery to remove half of the vertebrae as well as a large chunk of the tumor.

Surgeons then inserted two rods into Ashley’s spine.

Soon afterward, she was back on Loxo 292. Ashley reported ‘feeling great’ - so well that she returned to her job as a teacher.

Ashley also started a side business as a health and fitness influencer.

Wyss has said she believes her positive mindset enabled her to survive for as long as she did

‘I've never asked what my prognosis is, and it's not something I will ask,' she said. ‘I'm all about living in the present and taking each day as it comes.'

She said that her mindset enabled her to survive for as long she did.

‘I believe that my positive attitude and love of fitness has helped me get to where I am today,’ Ashley said.

‘I wholeheartedly believe that without my positivity, I would have let cancer win a long time ago.’

She added: ‘I've never asked what my prognosis is, and it's not something I will ask.

‘I'm all about living in the present and taking each day as it comes.

‘I'd rather not worry about the future and the “what ifs!”

Ashley said: ‘I surround myself with positive people and try to focus on the positives.

‘I allow myself time to process and feel sad about a situation, but I don't allow myself to stay in that headspace.

‘With everything that has happened, I could easily be in a really dark place.’

Ashley’s family is urging well-wishers to make donations in her name to the International Thyroid Oncology Group.