My name is Angela, and I am a nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer survivor. At 28 years old, I started experiencing severe headaches. I had always been healthy, never getting sick or having headaches.
I was newly divorced with two small children, living on my own for the first time, and attending college. I thought the headaches were probably nothing. However, the headaches worsened, and my tongue kept getting in the way of talking and eating.
I was an avid watcher and fan of “ER.” When an episode aired where Dr. Green stuck his tongue out after biting it, it deviated to his cheek, signaling signs of his brain tumor. I checked my tongue, and it did the same thing!
I had my dad take me to the hospital and told them I had a brain tumor. They laughed a little and gave me something for the headache, saying it was stress and probably a migraine due to everything going on in my life.
When they handed me discharge papers and told me to follow up with my regular doctor, I insisted I wasn’t leaving without a scan. I stuck my tongue out and showed them. They stared at me for a minute and asked me to sit back down. By then, I had started crying. Several doctors came in and told me they would get some scans to see what was going on.
It turned out my tumor was growing inward, pressing on my brain stem and mimicking a brain tumor instead of growing outward, which is more typical for a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (as a biopsy later showed).
They couldn’t remove it with surgery, so the only option was treatment. I barely survived and live every day with side effects, some of which are debilitating. However, because of my experience, I have been able to do things I don’t think I would have otherwise. I even played a doctor on the hit show “ER” because one of the producers heard my story. He has become a lifelong friend, and we still keep in touch. I have formed bonds with some of my doctors and nurses and, most importantly, found Jesus, who saved my soul and has given me so much peace.
I am honored to wake each day and excited to go home when He is ready for me. I turn 51 in a few days (June 19th). How blessed am I? ❤️
Angela
TX
Submitted 06/05/2024
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.
