Shara's Profile

Type of Cancer: Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Nonkeratinizing squamous cell

Diagnosis Date: July 30, 2013

Stage of Cancer: Stage 4

Tumor Size: 3.1 - 4.0 cm

Lymph Node Involvement: Yes

Radiation: Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy: Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Cisplatin (Platinol, Platinol-AQ), Erbitux (Cituximab), Taxol (Paclitaxel)

What I Hate Most About Cancer: The uncertainty of whether it will kill me or not.

What I Have Learned From Cancer: Live each day like it's your last.

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help: Pray and encourage me when I'm down.

Clinical Trials: Induction chemo with monoclonal antibody (cetuximab)

Gift Friends or Family Could Give You: Prayers

Cancer Center: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer: Try hard to find things that taste okay so you can maintain your weight and swallowing during radiation to head and neck.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer: If you are religious - focus on your family and pray and remember God is always with you. If not religious - focus on your family and getting through it so you can continue to be in their lives.

End of Treatment Date: December 21, 2013

NED Date: April 1, 2014

Nasopharyngeal Cancer symptoms: Fullness in right ear, sinus headaches, tingling and numbness in upper right lip and cheek area near the nose, right side of tongue and right side of roof of mouth sensitive to salty and acidic foods

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Started weekly induction chemo on 9/5/13 with carboplatin and paclitaxel- soreness in mouth, slight nausea, dry skin (severe itching), acid reflux. Started chemo-radiation on 11/4/13 using cisplatin. Received 5 weekly cisplatin treatments until wbc count was too low.

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Started radiation on 11/4/13 after 6 weeks on induction chemo

Immune Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Started cetuximab on 9/5/13 along with induction chemo as part of a clinical trial - skin rash on face, chest, back, and lower legs similar to acne (very painful), swollen lymph nodes which caused pain in the neck and back of head, severe itching, cracked corners of mouth that were extremely painful.