Hi fellow forumers, I am Chinese Female and 23 year old year this year and i had NPC . i just want to share about how i been diagnosed with NPC and how the treatment look like and the estimate cost of treating it .

First of all let talk about my lifestyles, i not a smoker or alcohol drinker, i did exercise but not very offen la as i still a student that time , need to rush assignments and prepare for exams. i dont like to eat salted fish or whatever salted preserves food as they say these food will increase the risk of getting NPC and i dont have a family history who got cancer, i am the first one in my family who got cancer . However, my father is a smoker , he like to smoke in the house and i think had inhale alot of 2nd and 3rd hand smoke , maybe this is the factor that put me in risk with NPC.(My DR also assume my case is due to this factor ) (Those fathers who smoke please stay away from your kids when u smoke . these 2nd and 3rd hand smoke really jeopardize ur kids health without notice it . these smokes are silent killer )

I remember 2 year from now . The first symptoms i encounter which is constantly having running nose in a week like 2 to 3 a week , i been sneeze for whole day until the next day i feel better. During that time , i don't concern so much as it was just due to allergy. My nose is not good since i was kid .

On June 2020 , i just realize got a lump on my left side neck (painless and movable swollen lymph node ) around (diameter )5 cm large i guess and there is some blood on my snot when i sneeze . Then, i went to GP. i told him the symptoms i got then he diagnosed bacteria infection and give me some antibiotic. After finish the medicine the lump still remain there , never enlarge or anything. i just leave it for 3 month until September 2020, Yes, i know i made a mistake here , i should go back to the GP as my lump did not go away after the medicine. When i went back to the GP , he said should look for ENT specialist.So he write a letter and refer me to Assunta hospital.

Ok in Assunta , the Dr do endoscopy and CT scan and he found out there is a tumor in my right nasopharynx. During that time , he did not concluded that is a cancer and he say need to do a biopsy to confirm. The Dr ask for RM 10K for the biopsy test (haha private hospital , u know la ) i say i just a fresh graduated and i still unemployed due to covid 19 situation so i cannot afford. Then he refer me to University Malaya Specilaist Centre (UMSC).

In UMSC, i did a biopsy test there which cost RM 1k which is alot cheaper. The result come out , yup i been diagnosed with NPC stage 3. Stage 3 mean the cancer had spread to my 2 side lymph node which cause my lymph node swelling.I remenber the first thing i ask the Dr is my case same with Datuk Lee Chong Wei? he said sorry boy urs is much serious than he had. Ok, i do have a some sad reaction and emotional when i heard it and i keep ask myself why this happen to me, i only 23 year old. Dr did arrange a Pet scan to check whether the cancer had spread beyond my neck. Lucky the cancer only found in my nose and lymph nodes.

After that , i been transter to PPUM oncology department for treament. So for my case the treament will be 2 cycle of chemotherapy+ radiotherapy (total 33 time ) The estimate cost will be RM 20k . Tmr (6/11/2020) will be the 1st day of treatment so wish me luck.

I will continue to update my condition and the side effect once i felt better. Thank you

jia you!

Take care and get well soon. My mom had breast cancer and she over came it, i only hope your family helps you to endure this together as a family. My prayers with you and your family. Praying you will live a long and successful life.

All the best. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Keep us updated.

I wish you all the luck to you. Stay strong and don't give up. Ever.

Thanks for sharing.
Do update us !
Jiayou

Good luck
Break a leg for you

Thank you for sharing.

I hope this would encourage smokers to stop smoking so that other family members will not be harmed by their actions.

Thank u for sharing.
All the best to u and stay strong.

Recently i have seen a lot of irresponsible men who called themselves father smoking while walking hand in hand with their kids. Just yesterday i saw a man smoking in the car while his kid is in the backseat unstrapped.

Thank you all the wishes and blessings. I gonna start my chemotherapy in 30 min. Hope the side effect don’t go too harsh on me. I will update again .

My father used to did this when I was a kid but in another way that my father ride motorcycle and I sit at the back . Hope those fathers who smoke don’t do this while ur child around

Thank you very much for sharing this. Pls rest more and hope u can faster recover.

To all smokers, pls don't smoke when there are non smokers around. Can smokers smoke anywhere in public nowadays or only at designated place/area?

shocking news but wish u all the best. keep us updated

stay strong.... all the best....

Hi Jessica, I was wondering how you are coping with the treatment so far? My father was recently diagnosed with NPC (between stage 1 & 2) and will be going through radio + chemo next week. Your experience would be helpful for me to understand what my father will go through during this treatment.

update us

Hi there , yes i just finish my 1st cycle of chemotherapy (each cycle 2 time ) last friday and my 2nd cycle will start on this coming friday. Luckily the side of chemo doesn't go too harsh on me . what i had experience which is a mild fatigue , loss appetite ,constipation(2nd and 3rd day after chemo) , feel bitterness in my mouth (It may last 3 to 5 day). However, i still able to go for jogging after chemo (it is not advisable if u feel extreme tired and weak ).


it is sad to heard ur dad also been diagnosed with NPC , but dont worry , with advancement of medical technology this disease is highly curable especially during early stage. what i can advise is listen to what doctor said ,always stay positive (i know it maybe hard but family support is very important (For my mum always be my side ) , eat healthy (alot veges and fruit avoid toxic food like prawn and etc ) and exercise more frequently (i went for jog 5km everyday before i start my chemo ) . i believe exercise will help in boosting metabolism as after chemo our body can produce new cell more quickly and therefore side effect will be mild.


so after 2nd cycle , i will proceed to radiotherapy. I will update again once my radio start. Stay strong !!!!

most importantly is maintain a positive mindset, stay strong TS

you will overcome it

Bro stay positive and come out of this. You have my respect and support. If need financial aid...pm me I help with what I can. I hope you get well and strong.

You got this bro!

Stay Strong and don't give up. You can overcome it, you got this. May god bless you.

Thank you for the update. Hope you can stay strong and steady throughout the entire treatment.

My father just went through his first radiotherapy session today and appears to be fine for now. He'll be going through 5 radiotherapy sessions a week with a cycle of chemo every Tuesday. Hope both you and my father's journey to cancer-free will be smooth sailing.

Thanks for sharing this, just wondering how are you coping now. Hope all is well at your side and get well soon!

Stay strong and all the best !

Ah too bad guys, tomorrow i will doing my 2nd cycle of chemo but very unfortunate my white blood cell had drop below average and i force to postpone for another week . sad

Oh dear, hope you can pull through. Is there a reason why your white blood cell count has dropped drastically?

I met up with a dietician recently and she advised my father to maintain a healthy diet to maintain red blood cell count but from your experience, it seems a drop in white blood cell is something to consider as well.