https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/tags/rarecancer/Recent content in rarecancer on Birmingham DailyHugo -- gohugo.ioen-usSat, 25 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/i-had-just-completed-my-gcses-in-birmingham-when-my-doctor-seemed-excited-to-diagnose-me-with-cancer/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/i-had-just-completed-my-gcses-in-birmingham-when-my-doctor-seemed-excited-to-diagnose-me-with-cancer/At just 16 years old, Tashifa Islam from Birmingham faced a life-changing diagnosis she never expected. After finishing her GCSE exams in 2021, she was told she had stage 3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma—a rare throat cancer located behind the nose. What followed was not only a battle with cancer but also with the way her diagnosis and treatment were communicated. Initially mistaking her flu-like symptoms for hay fever or a seasonal cold, Tashifa discovered a lump on her neck in early 2022.