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Dookie's Angels | Yvonne Pierre | Rebuilding Lives | The Positive Power of a Negative Miracle
Yvonne Pierre
On 26th October 2005 I had a mammogram done. This was followed by an ultrasound and an appointment to see a consultant surgeon. The surgeon examined me on the 8th November and detected a lump on the outer side of my right breast. It was recommended that it be removed immediately. The operation took place on the 10th November and while the laboratory‘s analysis revealed that the lump was cancerous the lymph nodes which were also removed were clear. I was then referred to an Oncologist and opted to see Dr Hess Benjamin. My first visit to him was on the 14th December followed by another on the 29th December.
The treatment prescribed was eight doses of chemotherapy and 30 of radiation therapy. The treatment at the National Radiotherapy Centre in St James began on the 9th January 2006. For the next seven months I was a regular visitor to the Centre and with the support of my husband who accompanied me on every visit and the staff, who I can best describe as being hand-picked from God, the months passed by pleasantly.
I made many new acquaintances and tried to give support where I could. At no time while I was at the Centre did I hear any member of staff being rough with a patient. There were long waits for the treatment and sometimes the patients got a bit restless, but the staff was always pleasant. When it was time for my radiation treatment I was actually considering going abroad because of the stories I had heard about the Centre’s Cobalt machines and the possibility of sustaining damage to your insides.
When I told this to the Oncologist his advice was to stop listening to other people and take my treatment at the Centre: I took his advice. There were five of us who used to meet every morning at 6:30 a.m. for the 25 to 30 sessions (Monday to Friday) of radiation that had to be administered. The days went by quickly.
Some seven months have elapsed since my treatment was completed and I now have to take a tablet daily for the next five years. So positive were my experiences at the Centre that I felt the need to give back something for the treatment I had received so I now go to the Centre every other Wednesday, as a volunteer, to serve sandwiches, tea and juice to patients who come from afar to receive treatment. This service is a daily, volunteer service by the Associates of the Radiotherapy Centre. I also attend group therapy sessions at the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society on Saturday mornings. At these meetings members who have had treatment and those who are awaiting treatment get together and support each other. From my own experience I would like to recommend the importance of healthy eating, lots of rest and exercising as part of the recovery programme.
In closing, I would like to give God thanks, the Holy Spirit who was always with me, my Oncologist Dr Benjamin, Dr Thompson the House Doctor, who administered the chemo, Oma the Lab Technician, Suzanne the Radiologist, my family and friends who always had me in their prayers, especially my husband who was always there for me.
Thank you and God bless you all.