Noelle's Battle with Cancer

Noelle, a devoted mother of two, loving wife, genuine friend, and incredible pharmacist is diagnosed with Stage 4 biliary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in August of this year.

So many people have reached out to see how they can help and we are so thankful for all the well wishes. This fund is set up for Noelle and the family to help during this time of incredible heartaches and to navigate through the devastating disease and treatment. It will help toward supporting the family with childcare, homecare, and medical expenses.

It all started in March when Noelle was experiencing diffused right shoulder pain. Thinking it was from excessive exercising, she sought the care of physical therapy and ortho. Ortho ordered spine x-rays and C-spine CT, they found disc bulging and disc narrowing. She was started on NSAIDS (anti-inflammatories).

In June, she started to experience right upper quadrant pain, thinking it was the NSAIDS, she stopped therapy but the pain persisted. On August 15, she went to the emergency department because of worsening of right upper quandrant pain. It was during this visit that she was told that she had liver masses along with masses in her lungs. It was later discovered that the right shoulder pain was referred pain from the cancer.

This surprising news shocked everyone and broke our hearts. Thanks to wonderful friends within the health system, Noelle was able to have an expedited workup, biopsy, full body CTS, diagnosis, and port placement within two weeks time. She started triple chemotherapy on Sept 1st at the UCSF Mission Bay Infusion center. Throughout this time, Noelle had an outpour of support. We are so thankful for all the wonderful friends and family that have traveled close and afar to support her and the family during this scary time. Everyone has pulled together their resources and contacts to expedite her care and treatment.

At work, even though Noelle was on medical leave, she was nominated for and won the UCSF Pharmacist of the Year (aka Val Louie) Award. Noelle was described as some who “brings energy, professionalism, intellect, systems-level thinking, teaching ability, and clinical expertise to the team.”. Noelle started as an ICU pharmacist in the cardiac ICU, expanded her role as an outpatient anticoagulation pharmacist, and eventually became the Director of Clinical Operations at the clinic in 2021. Everywhere she goes, she shows kindness, collaboration, and a bright spirit. We have been inspired by her subject expertise, while yet always sharing with a humble heart.

Noelle is currently undergoing chemotherapy with Mike, her husband, always at her side. Mike has dropped everything to take care of her, while also trying to support the staff at his work, and be there 100% for their girls. We don’t know what life will bring us, but this cancer diagnosis has been a rude awakening.

Thank you for your support. Your prayers, thoughts and love are truly appreciated during this difficult time.

With love,

The Tse family.