By Lakhram Bhagirat
Cancer is one of the most feared illnesses throughout the world and the fact that there is no cure in sight compounds that fear even more. For Janalyn Fraser, she was paralysed with fear when she was diagnosed with breast cancer almost two years ago.
“When they first told me that I had cancer, I felt my world collapsing and I didn’t know what was happening after, but I placed everything in God’s hands and I have been guided and is still being guided,” she said.
Fraser said following her diagnosis, her life immediately changed and she began thinking about all the ramifications. She remembers feeling as though someone had plunged a dagger through her body repeatedly, knocking all the air out of her lungs.
“I was so speechless and it was a good thing that I had a friend there to comfort me and make sure that I got home safely and I started to plan my life and look at the treatment options,” Fraser said.
The 56-year-old mother of four grew up in New Amsterdam, Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). She remembers her childhood as one she thoroughly enjoyed. It was filled with fun, and she enjoyed having Sunday lunch with her family and her days as a tomboy running around the village.
As she grew up, responsibilities took over and she remembers working in a garment factory in New Amsterdam and then moving to Georgetown when she got married. While in Georgetown, she worked with another garment factory and then at National Hardware for some 18 years. The last four years of her working life was spent at the Footsteps Mega Mall.
Going back to Fraser’s diagnosis, she said that it was actually a girlfriend who inspired her to go get checked out. She remembers vividly it was during the month of October in 2016 when she finally decided to go and have herself checked out. She went to the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) and was initially told that there was nothing to worry about.
“I went to GRPA and they checked me; I ‘ginched’ a little and he (the examiner) asked me what happened and I said I feel a slight pain when I ‘ginched’ and he said it is okay. I came home because he didn’t feel any lump and two days after I said, ‘let me check to see what the guy was feeling’ and when I checked, I felt the lump and I called them back. When I explained to him and I went and he rechecked me, and he said that he is sorry and he sent me to do an ultrasound at Woodlands Hospital and I was diagnosed then and there.”
She was told that she had a malignant tumour in her left breast. When it was discovered, the cancerous tumour was already in the second stage. Fraser immediately started chemotherapy at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Oncology Department. She would eventually undergo eight sessions of chemo and explained that it was a difficult period.
Her hair fell out and she felt weak during her sessions. Her mobility was limited after she would have completed her chemotherapy sessions.
“Only the day of the chemo I felt weak and so and after that I was okay. My tongue was black, my nails were black and face was black… [but] I never vomit or sick during the period. I lost all my hair,” Fraser explained.
She had a mastectomy on December 12, 2017, and her entire left breast was removed along with the lymph node. Recovering from her surgery was a journey that brought her closer to family and God. She is now adjusting to life without her left breast.
“I did a CT Scan about three weeks ago and it showed that I have a simple cyst on my kidney and the other organs are clear and I have to go for radiation. I am waiting for funding to do the radiation. I have to accumulate some money to do the radiation which I am hoping to get that done for next month.”
She said that because of her unemployment, funding for her treatment is now an issue. The radiation session is $460,000, but the Government usually contributes $200,000 and the patient is required to pay the remainder.
“I have to wait, because I don’t have the funds. I do not work and I have one of my sons here and he has been assisting with the house and my treatment. I started asking a few friends for some help and I am waiting on their word now,” she said.
Now she spends her time worrying about the money for her radiation therapy as she is battling the deadly illness.
“I have trust in God and he will show me a way to getting better. I am a believer and I will overcome all of this when the time is right.” (Sunday Times Magazine)
