His own diagnosis in 2015
happened just as he was preparing to
enlist in the military after graduating
high school and working as an usher in
a movie theater. That February, Zavier
began to experience “really harsh”
headaches, he says, so he visited a local
hospital and was given medication. But
the headaches persisted. “Deep down
I knew it was something different,”
Zavier says. He returned to the hospital
and this time a brain scan was done,
revealing a mass. Zavier was sent by
ambulance to Scott & White Memorial
Hospital in Temple for its advanced
imaging capabilities. An MRI found a
tumor the size of an orange behind his
right eye. Three days later Dr. Fonkem
sought the expertise of neurosurgeon
Frank Harris, MD. Zavier was
comforted by the fact that he already
knew about the resources at Baylor
Scott & White because of the care his
father received there. Dr. Harris was
the same physician who treated his
father. “We’ve known him for quite
a while. I trust his skills,” Zavier says.
Dr. Harris removed Zavier’s tumor,
which was found to be cancerous.
Zavier remained in the hospital for
a week and a half after his surgery. He
still marvels at the care he received.
“It was an amazing feeling,” he says.
“I knew I was in the right hands. They
would do anything for me.” After he
was released from the hospital, Zavier
underwent six weeks of radiation
and chemotherapy: radiation in the
morning and chemotherapy (in capsule
form) at night. The usual side effects
of chemotherapy—nausea and loss of
appetite—were rough. “The radiation
just made me really tired,” he says.
14
THE CATALYST Fall 16 | sw.org
“I know how serious
this cancer is,
people are still
amazed I’ve been
through it, but
I’m still just
who I was
from day one.”
—Zavier Dela Rosa
“It was the chemo that was affecting
my stomach.”
Although his radiation therapy is
complete, Zavier still must undergo a
round of chemotherapy for five days
each month. During those five days he
loses 10 to 15 pounds. He regains the
weight in the intervening weeks, only
to lose it again when chemotherapy
resumes. “It’s a constant battle trying
to stay the same weight,” he says.
Nevertheless, he appreciates the
convenience of taking a chemo pill at
home instead of receiving infusions at
the hospital. “I’d rather get sick at my
house than go to a hospital,” he says.
Zavier also has blood work done
every two weeks and an MRI every
month to monitor his condition. He
meets with Dr. Fonkem every four
weeks to review the results of the latest
tests. Zavier praises Dr. Fonkem for
looking after all aspects of his care.
“He’s helped me out with anything
I’ve needed,” he says. “He’s given me
suggestions on how to make my life
better at home.” Dr. Fonkem advised
him to “eat clean as much as you can,”
so Zavier has started drinking more
water instead of soft drinks and has
started cooking at home instead of
eating at fast food places. “I’m a much
healthier me,” he says. “I’m not as sick
after the chemo.”
Dr. Fonkem also helped him obtain
an innovative wearable device designed
to slow the growth of glioblastoma
cells. Four adhesive patches containing
transducers attach to his scalp and send
continuous low-intensity electric fields
into the brain. Zavier has to wear the
device for 18 hours a day, but says it
doesn’t bother him except when his
head sweats.
Living each day
Zavier says he receives tremendous
support from his mother, Connie, and
his girlfriend, Lynette. “They’re both
doing great and they’re helping me out
a lot.” He recognizes that it is difficult
for his mother to watch glioblastoma
affect a third member of her family.
“I know it’s very scary for her, but
she’s handling it better than the last
two times.”
Zavier also notes that, all things
considered, he remains in good health.
Although he hasn’t been able to work
since his diagnosis, he leads an active
lifestyle. He is not housebound. He
can drive. Thankfully, he hasn’t
had seizures, which are common
with glioblastoma patients. Because
he is young to be diagnosed with
glioblastoma, “the doctors told me
my age was going to help me live a lot
longer,” he says.
The long-term prognosis for any
brain cancer patient is not favorable.