“I am so relieved! Yes, my pap smear result is negative. Ain’t God good? As a matter of fact when the lab technician gave me my results that was exactly what I said. ‘Your result is negative. You can have another pap smear in another four to five years,’ she told me.
“‘God is good,’ I said. ‘All the time’ she responded,” the sister related.
“But I want to talk about how it has been in the little over two weeks of waiting. I was so anxious. It was difficult for anyone to know because I am so good at masking my emotions but inside it was complete turmoil. I work as usual. Took care of my family as usual. And I slept in and out but it was torture.
“I started to notice everything, whether it is imaginary or real, that made me conclude that I had cervical cancer. As a God-fearing woman I prayed fervently and I know with God all things are possible. I will advise persons not to be fearful but to put their trust in the Almighty and He will take care of it all. I don’t know if my faith is weak, I need to pray and believe more, but I was very fearful.
“Thankfully I shared my feelings with a friend, who, while she was positive, she allowed me to be vulnerable and listened. Sometimes that is very important. I also finally shared with my husband. Remember, I had indicated that I did the tests without informing him. Well, I did shortly after and he was very supportive. A very pragmatic man, he made it clear that he believed all is well and reminded me that I had done a pap smear previously. But he also allowed me to be anxious to a certain extent.
“I would advise if you believe something is wrong, get it checked. It is better than just allowing yourself to worry. Worry, stress and anxiety make you sick and then you will have another issue to deal with. And not just when you feel something is wrong make it a habit of putting your health as a priority.
“I know it can be expensive at times but it is worth it. Without health then there is no life right?
“And there are times when our experiences with health institutions are not the best but we still have to seek their services. To be honest, mine was not up to par at all. I am not going to name the institution because I do believe that they provide good service generally and their services are among the most affordable.
“I believe it is important for employees to understand that they are dealing with persons who might be at their most vulnerable and it is for them to ensure that their approach is the most humane and helpful. I did not take the treatment sitting down and I am happy that there was some satisfaction given. But I am thinking of the next woman who might just be too overwhelmed to even fight it and just has to take a service that does nothing for her emotional well-being.
“I am just happy that it is done and over with,” the sister stated.
She recalled that taking the test was not easy. Here is her experience as shared previously: “I don’t blame the doctor but it was painful and uncomfortable. I was told to get into position, and so you know you are at the edge of the bed, your knees and your legs are opened. I believe she used a plastic speculum at first and it was like she was turning and turning and I am feeling pain and being uncomfortable.
“She told me to relax and cough in my hands twice and then she said: ‘I don’t know what is happening but I am not seeing the cervix, just relax.’
“And I was like saying to myself ‘what is this?’ After a while she removed the instrument and told me she is using another and I would feel a coldness so I assume that it was a metal speculum then.
And it was like she was winding up this thing and it was going up in me and I am like what is this. Pain and uncomfortableness was too much. I am holding the bed rail and almost grinding my teeth and she telling me to relax.
“And she said: ‘I am sorry but it usually doesn’t take this long, I am supposed to see the cervix by now. Have you been feeling any bearing down pain recently?’
“I told her no and asked why and she said she was wondering if, I can’t remember the word she used, but when I asked her what it meant she said she is not sure if the uterus shifted and maybe that is why she is not finding the cervix. I am like screaming on the inside by now because I wanted that thing out of me and she was still stirring and stirring and pushing…
“She finally took it out but that was not the end of it. She then told me that she will have to insert her fingers to locate the uterus and she did. After a little while she was like ‘oh there it is’. And then it was the metal speculum again and it was still taking so long and she said: ‘Come on cervix where are you? I am so sorry I hope this would not prevent you from having another pap smear.’”
Asked if she would, the sister responded positively, “I will take another paper smear because it is in my best interest.”
I want to take this sister for sharing. As I said previously, sisters, don’t hesitate. Below I reshare some pertinent information.
According to the Mayo Clinic general warning signs of breast cancer include:
● General breast pain
● A new lump in the breast
● Breast thickening or swelling
● Shift in the breast shape or size
● Changes in the nipple, or a nipple that begins to turn inward
● Discharge from your nipple
● Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling
The clinic advises that if you notice any of these symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
As it relates to cervical cancer, Mayo Clinic notes that when it starts, it might not cause symptoms. But as it grows, cervical cancer might cause signs and symptoms, such as:
Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual.
Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odour.
Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.
It is advised that one should make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if they have any symptoms that worry them.
If you are a woman aged 21 and older and you have never done a pap test, please call the Cancer Institute of Guyana on 225-5701 or 225-5703 and make an appointment. You can also have a VIA done and this is free of cost at the VIA clinic located in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. There are also 14 VIA clinics located around Guyana and those in other regions can check the regional hospitals for further information. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh also announced that this year’s budget caters for an $8,000 voucher for women between the ages of 21 and 65 for cervical cancer testing. The Ministry of Health can be contacted on 226-7400. There is also the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association on Quamina Street. Call 225-4743 for further information or you can walk in and get a pap smear done for $5,000 and a VIA for $2,500. A breast examination is done for the cost of $2,000 and a breast ultrasound for $6,000.
