PINKTOBER AWARENESS Keep Family Informed, Survivor Pleads
Acancer survivor is urging women to include their husbands when discussing about the illness.
Cervical cancer survivor, Reapi Nayacakalou, while giving her testimony during the Pan Pacific South East Asia women’s Association (PPSEAWA) Lautoka Pinktober celebration yesterday, said having her husband made aware of her health helped him understand the gravity of the situation.
“I am telling all women, if you go to the hospital, please take your husband with you when you receive your diagnosis so that your husband can hear it from the doctor the changes that is expected to happen to you,” she said. “Some women are being left high and dry by their husbands, they don’t understand the changes that women are going through. I am so thankful to God that he gave me one man, this man who loved me for me. He supported me all, throughout until this day he is still there for me.”
The mother of two said she also chose to be open about her illness with her two sons.
She firmly believes that cancer patients need explain their illnesses and the risks involved to their families because it will provide them some closure.
“It’s how we explain to our husbands and our kids that gives them the closure they need after we are gone. I think that’s very important, don’t leave them angry with us,” she said.
Despite the benefits of traditional remedies she believes women still need to get a clinical perspective on how their sickness was progressing.
“For me, I’ve always been open,
I’ve always spoken to my kids. To this day, I talk to them openly about health issues for women especially. Sometimes we think that they are too young, but they know more than we do,” she said
Association president Titilia Vuataki thanked the members for attending the event and taking the time to listen to Mrs Nayacakalou’s testimony.