The word ‘fighter’ aptly characterises Anna DeMorris, a 58-year-old mother of three who is determined not to let Cancer succeed.
Cancer Survivor: Anna DeMorris
In 2008, Anna was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and was successful in her quest to beat this disease.
Cervical Cancer diagnosis: “I screamed”
However, her life took a different turn in 2018 when she received a diagnosis that would push her to the brink of despair – Cervical Cancer.
One night, I woke up and went to urinate, and when I [took] the tissue and mopped, I saw blood. The next day, I called one of my Foundations – the Beacon Foundation – and I told the nurses what I [had] found, and they told me not to put my finger up.
Following the nurses’ advice, Anna visited an Oncologist who conducted a biopsy, sending samples to the Georgetown Public Hospital and Woodlands for analysis.
I opened it, and I saw all the red markings. I know to read it. My doctor said, ‘don’t cry, you know what is happening?’ I said yes, and I started screaming.
However, the reality of the situation overwhelmed the mother of three, and she could not help but let her tears flow.
Treatment: Internal and external radiation
The recommended course of action involved both internal and external radiation.
They did [the paperwork] for me to start the radiation, and I had to do it at Eureka because Georgetown Hospital wasn’t doing it, but now they are doing it.
Anna faced another challenge – the financial burden associated with her treatment. The required cancer marker test alone cost $15,000, a sum she could not afford.
Undeterred, she and her doctor approached the Ministry of Health to present their case.
Fortunately, the Ministry stepped in and covered the expenses for her treatment at the Cancer Institute. They also covered the treatment in Suriname, where she underwent internal radiation.
Cancerous tissues forming in the cervix [Photo credit: Cleveland Clinic]
The 58-year-old woman, who is a grandmother of three, found support from organisations like the Giving Hope and the Beacon Foundations. She noted that their assistance proved invaluable in her fight against cancer.
I went to Suriname, and I did the internal radiation. But before I met in Suriname, I had no cancer – the cancer was gone. But when I met over there, the doctor said, you have to do it because we don’t want a recurrence. During the internal radiation, I was lying down on my back in 2018 because I was badly burned. But I am thankful to God that I am here and have life.
In a heartfelt plea to women, Anna encouraged early screening, emphasising the importance of tests like Pap Smear.
Women out there, I am appealing to you to get early screening because some people never went. There is nothing to be afraid of.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix – the entrance to the uterus from the vagina.
It is worth noting that almost all cervical cancer cases are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV). HPV is an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2018, an estimated 570,000 women were diagnosed with this disease, and about 311,000 died.
