Breast cancer survivor Beverley Ann Munesar is encouraging persons to let their family and friends know when they are sick.
Beverley, 58, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and she says it was the support from her loved ones that played a major role in her survival.
“When you are sick, I can encourage anybody don’t you keep sickness to yourself. A lot of friends and family came onboard and my support was very, very great and that alone healed me more than 50% in my body.”
It was while on vacation in Canada in 2015 that Beverley noticed that her right breast was unusually pink and knew something was wrong.
Beverly waited until she returned to Guyana to visit the doctor.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 10, 2015 after an ultrasound at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
She spoke with the News Room Friday at V-Net Communications’ annual day of observance to raise awareness about breast cancer, to support survivors and also remember those who are no longer here.
The month of October is observed annually as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“On the same day that I was diagnosed, I cried…just for five minutes but then I prayed and I asked God to give me the strength and the courage that I can get look after very fast,” Beverley said.
Just 13 days after her diagnosis, Beverley had a mastectomy at a private hospital in Georgetown.
“I had to do some tests and by the time my biopsy came back in seven days, I had all my blood work in order so I just had to make a date with him [doctor] to do the surgery and I went in the 22nd and I had the surgery the 23rd,” she said.
With the immeasurable support from her husband Rabindranauth, her three children, friends and family, Beverley successfully got through her chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the Guyana Cancer Institute.
“When you hear that you are diagnosed with cancer, everybody thinks that this is the end of the world and while I lost my energy…I still had hope,” Beverley said with a smile.
Since her diagnosis, Beverley said her life has changed completely.
After teaching for 25 years, Beverley retired a year after being diagnosed with cancer.
She now suffers from memory loss and she also has lymphedema.
Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment. A blockage in your lymphatic system results in lymphedema, which prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and the fluid buildup leads to swelling.
“After a year when I did my mastectomy, I was never told to be so careful with my hands…to not even get a cut. And I was busy doing my work for the Christmas vacation and I happen to get a cut on my finger and from that cut bacteria went into this hand and it was swollen.”
Beverley lives at Wakenaam, an island on the Essequibo River with her husband, who is also a retired teacher.
Her husband, who she calls her domestic engineer, spends his days taking care of her.
Once or twice a month, the couple travels to Georgetown for regular checkups at the Guyana Cancer Institute.
Beverley is urging women to do regular self-examinations and to take the signs seriously.
“If you do self-examination and if you see any different looks on the breast, don’t take chances with it,” she said.
Early signs of breast cancer include swelling of all or part of a breast, skin irritation, breast or nipple pain and redness of the breast.