Sharon Lieberman

When Sharon Lieberman began having difficulty breathing in July 2012, she went to her primary care doctor. X-rays showed Sharon’s left lung was filled with fluid. She was admitted to Aultman Hospital, and that was when her cancer journey began.

Two weeks later, Sharon received a diagnosis: lung cancer. She met Dr. Khan and his staff, and they have been working together ever since.

“This has been a very scary experience. Dr. Khan and his team never gave up finding a treatment that would extend my life,” she said. “I went through many forms of chemo, and in 2016, Dr. Khan sent me to a specialist at University Hospital for genetic testing. This testing changed my life.”

The test revealed that Sharon had a specific gene that would work with medication to treat the lung cancer. Now, Sharon takes medication twice a day and is going on with her life.

Sharon – a Canton native – shared she has been fortunate to have supportive friends throughout her cancer journey. “If I asked for help or a ride to an appointment, there was a line of people wanting to take me,” she said.

She also shared how the simple routine of getting dressed and ready to leave the house has been therapeutic. “When I was sitting in Dr. Khan’s office for my first appointment, there was book on the table regarding cancer treatment. One chapter read, ‘If you have to get chemo, do not dress like you are sick.’ I have lived by those words ever since,” she said. “There were days that I felt sick – but I always tried to look put-together. To this day, I go to see Dr. Khan once a month and always plan what I will wear! Especially now, with the pandemic, I do not get to go many places. It truly makes a difference when you look in the mirror and feel good about how you look.”

Reflecting on her cancer diagnosis and treatment, Sharon said, “A few years into this journey, I was asked what I thought was my greatest strength, and at the time, I was not sure how to answer. Looking back, I would say: my sense of humor and endurance. You never know what you can do until you’re faced with a situation – and then you just face it!”

To learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference for cancer survivors in our community, please visit the Timken Family Cancer Center's page.