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Today marks the end of Cancer Month and in Belize. Several activities have been held during the month of October all in an effort to raise awareness of early detection and prevention among those who are not infected with the disease and cancer management for those who are suffering. Speaker of the House, Valerie Woods, was our guest on the LOVE Morning Show and spoke candidly about her journey from the time she got the news of her diagnosis.
Valerie Woods, Speaker of The House: “I was literally in the parking lot at the airport because I was about to travel to a conference when I got the call that my test came back positive and it wasn’t staged, but it was Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, Invasive Lobular Cancer. I didn’t have a lot of time to digest that, but I knew there was going to be several weeks because they advised me before I could even really begin to get an understanding of staging and all of that. But when I, when I am about a year ago, did my first initial consultation to understand what it all means, uh prognosis, treatment, I saw a senior gentleman with his family and he rang the bell. And I broke down because I thought, one, I didn’t know if I was going to get there, and two, what a long journey. But one year later, I’m here.”
And although she too rang the bell, she’ll be the first to tell you that her treatment is not over because the journey continues.
Valerie Woods, Speaker of The House: “ So there’s another phase which is not as invasive as the last 10 or so months, but it’s life after treatment. it is the, uh in my case, I’m a high risk for recurrence. So I have to go on injections to suppress my ovaries. I was 51 at the time when I was diagnosed. I’m about to turn 52. So, I was not in menopause and therefore I need to stay in the menopause that the chemo brought on. And then I have to go on a couple of pills to make sure that the estrogen is reduced because the cancer is fed by that. And then it’s monitoring to make sure that there is no recurrence.”
When asked what advice she would give to women suffering from cancer or from the recent increase in Gender-based violence this is what she had to say.
Valerie Woods, Speaker of The House: “We have a serious problem in Belize and until we understand what zero tolerance means across the board, what it means for institutions, the authorities, what does that mean beyond the expression of condemnation, ah we probably won’t have that dent that’s needed to break this. It’s all about business, it’s not a private matter. And all of us have to take stock and we have to figure out, you know, if you see something, say something. But not only that, this week has been a tough week on this country and with the news that you mentioned earlier, it’s going to be another tough day. And so, we need to look at where the gaps are and radically change what needs to be changed. For those battling a critical illness like cancer or any other major event, I say from my, I can speak to my experience because every cancer journey is individual and unique. Close family and friends play a big role. It can catch you at 2 a.m. It can catch you at 6 p.m. You just need that support system. But I have come to appreciate trust in your doctor, trust in information that’s before you, and recognizing that with positive thinking, it can pass and you can, life is to be enjoyed. And so, I tell people now when they ask me, my time is premium. It is premium and I’m going to guard it zealously. I’m going to enjoy my days because tomorrow is guaranteed to no one.”
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