Cancer survivor
GIVES GOD THE GLORY
When Winsome Fuller-Nichol was diagnosed with cervical cancer on February 28 last year, she felt as if her world would fall apart.
She had been experiencing worrying symptoms, including weight loss, but the thought of being afflicted by cancer was furthest from her mind when her doctor sent her to get a Pap smear done. After the medical investigations FullerNichol was told she had stage four, which means it was advanced and required aggressive treatment.
“I felt terrible when the doctor told me,” Fuller-Nichol recalled. “I started crying, mi bawl nuff until mi head started to hurt me and my heart started to race, and then I called my sister and told her and I felt like I was going to block out,” she said.
Cervical cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix. It occurs most often in people over age 30. The Jamaica Cancer Society said the fourth most common cancer overall, and the second most common in women. In 2020, there were a reported 386 new cases of Cervical cancer.
Approximately 200 women die annually as a result of cervical cancer in Jamaica,the cancer society said.
She told told THE STAR that last year was first in a long time that she was doing a Pap smear, which is the procedure used to screen for cervical cancer. It is recommended that screening tests start at 21 years old.
Fuller-Nichol, 47, told THE STAR that her faith in God, dedicated and professional medical personal and a strong support system that helped her to beat the dreaded disease.
“It shake up my family bad bad, but my family was there for me with prayer ... I felt depressed, like I want to give up, like I want to throw in the towel, but to God be the Glory,” she expressed.
The cancer survivor said that she had to undergo chemotherapy treatment, which was no fun, but she had no choice but to fight.
“I had to do it, my family, a nurse friend and my church members pushed me because they said if I didn’t do it the next step would be down in the grave,” Fuller-Nichol said.
“I prayed and went on fasting for three days and asked God to guide me and show me the right way. I heard about the cancer when we had a month of fasting at my church and I went every single night, and that helped boost me up,” she said.
Having been declared cancer-free, Fuller-Nichol is hoping her story will inspire women to not only do regular Pap smear but also to anchor their faith in God.
“My plan is to give my testimony to people, despite what we are going through, in spite of the sickness that we have God is a healer and he can heal, just keep your faith and pray,” she said.