A
alexk
Guest
The Sunday Guardian recently began a series on cancer—the stories of survivors and those who succumbed to this global pandemic. We last highlighted the case of the late Ricardo “Smokey” McKenzie, who died as a result of radiation necrosis (occurring in cases of radiation overdose). His widow Lisa-Ann McKenzie shared with us the journey from his diagnosis to his death.
Today, Cindy Montague takes us through her experiences living with the disease, having been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma five years ago.
My name is Cindy Montague, I am a 28-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when I was 23-years-old. Since then, life has dramatically changed for me.
I spend all of my days thanking God for life. It’s not an easy one I’m living but to still be alive at stage four, and having defeated doctors’ three-month prognosis when first diagnosed is a blessing altogether, especially when you know so many people have died as a result of this dreadful disease.
I first noticed something wrong on my body while shopping at a Wonderful World boutique with friends. While checking out some jewelry in the mirror provided for customers, I noticed something strange. There was a protruding lump on my neck. It really alarmed me and my friends suggested I get it checked out. I took the advice and after doing some internet research about what it might be, visited the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope. The doctors ran a few tests, one of which I remember was a test for tuberculosis. They informed me the lump would reduce with some pills they prescribed and sent me home.
However, within a few weeks of taking the pills I broke out in an overwhelming itch all over my body. What worried me, the itch was not external but internal. I had sleepless nights as the itch would last 24 hours a day. The itch was so bad I would use anything, from a scrubbing brush to a comb, to keys, to scratch my skin until in some cases it bled. While dealing with the itch, I noticed the lump, though not painful, started to grow rapidly. I started losing weight—losing up to 75 pounds in six months. And the complexion of my skin became very dark in colour and rough in texture.
I saw herbalists, doctors, homoeopathic doctors, dermatologists, any and every doctor I could see hoping they could tell me what was happening to me. I even changed my diet completely becoming vegan hoping, that too would have made a difference, but still no change. I was spending more money than I was earning at my job so I had to find another one and juggle the two just to pay these medical bills.
But I eventually lost my teaching job of six years then, because of the constant itching. I was so tired of seeking out doctors until a friend recommended a doctor in Tacarigua, who after examining me stated my symptoms were consistent with that of cancer. He then sent me to another specialist who did a fine needle aspiration biopsy on the growth and the tests confirmed the former doctor’s finding and he officially diagnosed me with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
I was advised I needed to do immediate surgery as the tumour was lying on the jugular vein that runs straight to my brain, making me high risk. But the surgery was so expensive and I could not afford it, having lost my job. I visited a doctor in Sangre Grande who would surgically reduce the size of the tumour, also sending some of its tissue abroad for testing. Finding out I had cancer was devastating enough but finding out that it was in the stage two category just made things more worrying.
Emotionally, I was overwhelmed, confused and concerned about my chances of living. I tried to stay positive on the outside, but that was just a façade because whenever I was alone, I cried and cried…crying myself to sleep. I thought about how my life would change if I would be able to handle it, would I ever get the chance to have children. The hardest part of the journey was trying to programme my mind to come to terms with the fact that I would be on medication, doing chemo and dealing with the side effects of both, possibly for a while.
I found temporary comfort in my family and friends and my then fiancé, now my husband. Had it not been for them, I would have given up a long time ago and you would not be reading my story today.
When I had to have chemotherapy done, I was told I had to do six cycles which amount to 12 treatments. By the third treatment, the horrible itch had left. But the side effects were unbearable. I got blisters in my mouth, I became constipated at times and other times would get diarrhoea and vomiting.
The pain was so intense I would be rolling on the ground begging God to heal me.
Upon conclusion of the 12th treatment, I was told it was unsuccessful so I was referred to the St James Infirmary to start radiation but they told me they were unable to help me and referred me to a south-based private medical institute where I began radiation, but that too was unsuccessful. When it was time for medication, not all the medication was available at the hospital, many times my prescriptions just had to remain sitting on my dresser.
I started hosting fundraising activities so I could help myself because tests were very expensive —ranging from $3,000-$5,000 for CT Scans.
The fundraising activities were very stressful as well. I would later meet a very kind woman who would refer me to a homoeopathic clinic in Canada. I contacted them to arrange a meeting in person. I started part of their treatment here in Trinidad but was told I needed to come to Canada to further it. Unfortunately, my application for a Canadian visa was turned down by the Canadian Embassy.
The medication had to be imported, which was very costly and the clinic did help a lot in subsidising the cost and I was able to stay on their meds for a year which created vast improvements in my body without side effects. However, due to my financial situation, I could not maintain using it and I had to revert back to chemotherapy treatment at the Sangre Grande Hospital where I still currently receive treatment.
Altogether since my diagnosis, I have spent over $300,000.
Though my immediate family remains my number one supporters, my marriage has suffered, struggled and became complicated over the years. I also lost most of my friends and I watched people give up on me, causing me to feel very discouraged at times.
Living with cancer has thought me how to appreciate those who love me in life; my parents, friends who have stayed and my little bundle of joy, Hailey my niece. Over the years those who stood with me, like Glendale’s Pharmacy, Extra Foods (Grand Bazaar) and Vemco Ltd, I thank you for all your wonderful and beautiful support.
What keeps me going is my faith in God and I live my life every day not as a cancer patient or victim but as an overcomer. Laughter is good for the soul and I love helping people and making a positive difference in their lives. Seeing someone smile makes me smile. I plan on leaving my mark on this world, so against all odds, I believe I will beat this!