By Abigail Headley
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities, the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) hosted “No Bra Friday”, on October 13, during which women were asked to go braless and men were asked to wear a bra outside of their shirts to show support to those who lost their breasts to cancer.
One of the women benefiting from such support was Roneta Williams, the true epitome of a fighter, who has undergone a mastectomy, treatment and side effects as well as negative comments from some acquaintances.
Williams told Stabroek News in an interview that it was through her daughter that she discovered the lump in her breast in June 2022.
“I have a daughter that developed a habit of feeling my breast for comfort after she stopped breastfeeding. Even though she is now an adult she still does it from time to time to torment me. It was her that first felt the lump and brought it to my attention. With cause for concern, I made a doctor appointment, which led me to do several tests and was later diagnosed with Stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer,” she related.
As has been the case for many women, Williams felt like she was being issued a death sentence. Life as she knew it, she said, felt like it was over.
After undergoing a single mastectomy, she started chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the side effects of which made her subject to a lot of pain, the inability to eat along with memory, weight and complete hair loss. Added to those, a new diet, dependency on others, and various infections were the new order of the day for the mother of two. All that, coupled with her significantly altered physical appearance from the cancer and all that came with it, threw Williams into a depressive state.
She described some of the challenges she faced during her battle with cancer as being “forced to adjust to dependency on others for daily functions that I could have previously carried out on my own; dealing with the stares and social stigma of society; sore throat and vomiting; picking up infections easily; [and the] darkening of my fingernails, feet bottom, palm of my hands and the interior of my mouth”.
The hardest for her though, was the social stigma and surprisingly hurtful comments from some people around her.
“The fact that some individuals made me feel like less of a woman and that I deserved what was happening to me didn’t help,” she recalled, and noted that this often left her feeling alone and discouraged.
Despite these challenges, the love and support she received from family, friends, and support groups helped her remain positive throughout her journey.
The GCF and the Beacon Foundation were instrumental in providing financial, emotional, and physical support that made a significant difference in her healing, Williams said.
Her faith community also played a significant role in her healing, and through it all, her fighting spirit never faded. She developed a new healthy lifestyle, and her diet now includes soursop tea, ginger, turmeric, and plenty of fruits, all of which are rich in anti-cancer properties. Williams noted too that she became more involved with her immediate family, incorporated daily exercise, and prioritised self-care.
“Although I can’t lift heavy objects or work at the moment leaving me dependent on persons from time to time, which I am not accustomed to, or comfortable with, I think my road to recovery has been on a good path thus far,” she added.
Being a triple-negative cancer patient means that Williams’s disease could resurface. As such, even though she is in remission, she said, she still has some test results pending to know her current status with regard to the cancer. These results are expected next month and will determine if she is completely cancer-free.
Williams’s message to the public is clear: “educate yourself on proper self-care by improving your diet, learning how to examine your body, especially for breast cancer, making regular doctor appointments, and sharing your information”.
Her advice to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer is to stay strong and not to let negative comments bring them down. She acknowledges that cancer isn’t the end of the world but rather the beginning of a new chapter in life.
Currently unemployed, Williams hopes to pursue her passion for teaching by opening her own daycare centre in the future. She finds joy being around children and looks forward to starting her new venture after she gets the all-clear from her medical checkup in November.
Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, faith, community support, and the importance of proper self-care.
The most common symptom of breast cancer is the presence of strange lumps or thickening that feels different from other breast tissue. Other symptoms include changes in the size or shape of the breast, dimples or dents, inverted nipples, flaking or peeling of the dark area surrounding the nipples, and redness or pitting of the skin of the breast, much like the skin of an orange.
It is essential to conduct self-examinations regularly and schedule mammograms or clinical breast examinations to ensure early detection and timely treatment of breast cancer.
The GCF is a reliable non-profit organisation where those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or know someone fighting the disease can seek help and support. It is located at 351 East Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown. Bibi Hassan, the director, is available at 618-2085 for any inquiries.
