Park So Dam reveals she thought she had burnout before doctors found 13 lumps and diagnosed thyroid cancer

Park So Dam has opened up about the health crisis that led to her thyroid cancer surgery, revealing that she initially believed her extreme fatigue and low energy were signs of burnout.

The actress appeared on the August 18 episode of MBC’s Playlist 109, where she spoke about being diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and the difficult recovery period that followed.

Park So Dam recalled struggling physically while filming the movie Phantom, which required many action scenes.

She explained, “I didn’t know exactly what was wrong, but my energy wouldn’t come up and I felt depressed and down.”

Because she had worked continuously throughout her 20s, Park So Dam initially thought exhaustion was the cause.

She said, “I thought I had burnout. In my 20s, there were years when I worked on six projects, including plays, dramas, and films.”

However, medical tests later revealed a more serious issue.

Park So Dam shared, “When I was examined, there were 13 lumps in my neck, and it had spread to my lymph nodes.”

She said doctors told her that one of the larger growths was located close to a nerve connected to her voice. Because of the possible risk to her vocal function, she was advised to undergo surgery quickly.

Recalling the situation, she said, “They told me that if it spread into the nerve, I could lose my voice, so I needed surgery right away.”

Park So Dam underwent surgery and said she was fortunate that the cancer had stopped at the lymph nodes, meaning she did not need chemotherapy.

Her recovery, however, took time. She revealed that it took about six months before her voice fully returned.

She said, “At first, my voice sounded like I had become a child again.”

The actress also described how difficult it was to rebuild her strength after surgery. Although Seokchon Lake was only about a 15-minute walk from her home, she said she initially struggled to complete the walk because she became short of breath so easily.

Park So Dam recalled spending many days walking around the lake while processing her emotions.

She explained, “I cried a lot. It became a place where I could fully let my emotions out. When I come here, I feel like I’m healing.”

The experience also changed how Park So Dam approached her life outside acting. She began trying things she had never done before, including traveling alone through Europe for more than a month and driving to Iceland to see the northern lights.

Looking back, Park So Dam said the experience encouraged her to pay more attention to herself after years of focusing heavily on work.

She shared, “Of course, I wish I had never been sick, but I often say that I think I went through it well. I think I lost sight of myself for a while because I was so busy.”

She added, “Until one or two years ago, it was difficult for me to talk about my experience because I would keep crying. I decided I needed to take care of myself until I could talk about it comfortably. Now, more than anyone, I’m taking care of myself.”