From Struggles to Strength: Trudy Cummings on Fighting Cervical Cancer and Raising Awareness

TRUDY Cummings began experiencing menstrual difficulties when she first encountered her period, at the age of 16, while she was still attending school in her hometown in the Mabaruma Designated Area, Region 1 (North). West).
Shortly afterward, while residing in Georgetown, she was diagnosed with a hormonal disorder characterized by symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, ranging from no bleeding to heavy, prolonged bleeding lasting more than a week .
She remembers receiving advice from several medical professionals that the problem would resolve itself once she had children.

On another occasion, the doctor pointed to the presence of cysts as the root cause of the problem, assuring that they would dissipate at the end of her menstrual cycle.
“I had my two children, but it continued, I had hormonal problems, I didn’t have regular periods. Basically going to different doctors for help…it was very, very difficult every time you had this problem, bleeding for two weeks, three weeks,” she explained.
Whether it was medications for hormonal issues or for cysts, no treatment helped.

Her condition radically disrupted her life, as she frequently had to miss work to stay at home. When the time came, she decided to resign from her teaching position and spent the majority of her time at home.
But something happened one day that made him realize that his problems were more than just a hormonal issue or cysts, and that finding out was a matter of life and death.

“The last time before my diagnosis, I passed out after bleeding for about three weeks. My son was at home, he was about eight or nine years old and it was very shaking and scary for him… He called my husband and he said “mom passed out and she was bleeding”.
By then, Trudy was drenched in blood, weak and scared. Given the severity of her symptoms, Trudy’s husband took her to the hospital and a Pap test was recommended and performed. A Pap test is a test done on a sample of cells from the cervix to look for abnormalities that may be indicative of cervical cancer. The test results showed that Trudy had cervical cancer, but it was at an early stage.

Although her mother accompanied her for the Pap test results, Trudy chose not to tell her the results right away because she was afraid her mother would not take the news well.
It was only when she returned home that she tearfully shared the news with her husband, who reassured her of his love and support and convinced her to pursue the treatment available.
Ultimately, after other treatments failed, the doctor recommended a hysterectomy – removal of the uterus – when Trudy was just 35 years old.
“It was an experience I didn’t expect,” she said.

Trudy, who had already leaked fragments of her story to the media, refrained from divulging full details of her trip at that time because she was unprepared. However, on this occasion she spoke candidly about a range of topics, including her concerns about living with a “missing” body part, her inability to have more children, her worries about the nature of her sexual relationship with her husband, especially considering their youth, and even the potential judgments and comments of others.

Additionally, she revealed that despite strong support from her family, she struggled with depression, mainly due to the sudden onset of menopause after the hysterectomy, which led to mood swings and episodes “hot flashes”.
“One time it was so bad, I started flaking my hair… my mother came to my house that same afternoon and she heard the screams and when she came home I was sitting on the bed and she asked me “what’s wrong?” It’s really wrong with you’ and I told him that I had chipped all my hair, I didn’t want it… and then I realized that people would go to these mental health centers because of the menopause…but thank God I’m done with that,” she said. .

Trudy advised anyone going through what she did to seek mental health treatment/support as it helped her when she was struggling.
She said she was glad she had the hysterectomy, otherwise she “wouldn’t be here” to tell her story and inspire others to get checked out, pay attention to their bodies and stand up for themselves. even if they think something is wrong with their body.
To anyone currently going through a similar journey – facing a hysterectomy, Trudy’s message is: “It’s not the end of the world, you can still live, look at me, I’m still living, don’t you -it’s not. You have life and you can live, and you can be someone else’s mom.

In addition to the continued love and support of her family, Trudy joined the Giving Hope Foundation, one of seven NGOs that make up One Communications’ Champions of Hope group, which collaborates to support cancer survivors and fighters and to raise awareness about the disease.
Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Trudy said it’s important to include cervical cancer in the conversation now because both cancers affect women. Furthermore, as statistics show, cervical cancer is very common even though it is preventable with a simple HPV vaccine which the Ministry of Health says it administers free of charge throughout Guyana.

In 2023, according to statistics from the Guyana Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, while breast cancer accounted for 17 percent (235 recorded cases – the highest of all cancers) of cancers in Guyana, cervical cancer of the uterus accounted for 9 percent of cancers. , with 128 cases recorded – the third highest number of cases. Prostate cancer accounted for 160 cases, or 12 percent (the second most common cancer).

Trudy encourages residents to join her on October 27 for the One Communications “Move For A Cause” Pinktober Run/Walk – themed “Many Hearts, One Fight” – for breast cancer awareness.

To support fundraising efforts that ultimately help cancer survivors and fighters, visit www.pinktobergy.masaxcess.com or donate via text – Text “Donate” to 620 -(PINK) 7465. Also, to donate via mmg: Log in to the mmg app; click on “Pay the merchant”; Enter “One Pinktober” and the amount you want to donate. For more information about One Communications Pinktober 2024, visit [email protected].