Standing before a bathroom mirror in late 1998, Adele Williams-Sewell noticed one breast looked “a little bit fuller than normal.”
Adele Williams-Sewell, Breast cancer survivor
She felt a small lump. There was no family history, and she did not smoke or drink, but something felt off.
“I wasn’t panicked,” she recalled, “but I knew I’d found a lump.” A doctor’s appointment led to a January 1999 mammogram that showed nothing; dense breast tissue can make tumours harder to see in younger women.
An ultrasound followed and confirmed early-stage breast cancer. “At the time, I thought the diagnosis of cancer probably meant death […] My daughter was only four. I was scared.”
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND A CLEAR MARGIN
Surgeons removed two small lumps during a lumpectomy, achieving clear margins. After surgery, Williams-Sewell completed six weeks of radiotherapy, attending three sessions a week.
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Side effects were minimal, temporary skin darkening that faded, and pathology showed the cancer was oestrogen-receptor positive, so doctors prescribed tamoxifen to lower the chance of recurrence.
“They told me that 70% of people in my situation would be fine afterwards. I decided to carry on with my life.”
THE POWER OF SUPPORT AND PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR OTHERS
Williams-Sewell credits her family, especially her physician sister, who was by her side.
Her message to anyone newly diagnosed is to follow the medical team’s recommendations, whether that is radiotherapy, tamoxifen, or chemotherapy.
Guard your mindset by not letting fear take over and by taking each day at a time, she noted, adding that individuals should believe in early detection because the statistics are in their favour when cancer is found early.
She adds that if chemotherapy leads to hair loss, it often grows back thicker and healthier, which can feel like a fresh start.
THE DOCTOR’S TAKE: BREAST CANCER IN GUYANA
To frame this survivor’s journey in today’s context, Technical Officer for Cancers at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Shanique Greaves, underscores why World Breast Cancer Awareness Month matters under the theme “Every story is unique, every journey matters.”
Ministry of Health, Dr. Shanique Greaves
“It’s about the hope and resilience in each person’s path and reminding others just starting out that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
Dr. Greaves explains that risk increases with a first-degree family history, such as a parent or sibling, with certain reproductive histories, such as a very early first period, never giving birth, or never breastfeeding, and with lifestyle factors, including physical inactivity and overweight or obesity.
Age also matters, since risk rises from the 40s and often in the 50s, though younger and older people can also be affected. Men can get breast cancer as well.
Because early breast cancer is often asymptomatic, Dr. Greaves urges routine screening rather than waiting for symptoms. When signs do appear, people should watch for a new lump in the breast or underarm, a noticeable change in breast size or shape, skin changes such as thickening, dimpling or darkening, new nipple inversion, or bloody nipple discharge. While discharge is not always cancer, it warrants a prompt check-up.
Mammography remains the primary screening tool. The recommended screening ages are 40 to 74 years, with individualised decisions for those under 40 or over 74 who have symptoms or additional risk factors.
A mammogram involves brief compression between two plates: an experience Dr. Greaves describes as short-lived discomfort that delivers long-term peace of mind because mammograms can detect tiny abnormalities that cannot be felt and may not appear on ultrasound.
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“Early detection saves lives,” she emphasises. There are four mammography machines in Regions Two, Six, Nine, and 10. If a screening or diagnostic mammogram finds something suspicious, the next steps typically include targeted imaging, biopsy to confirm or rule out cancer, referral to general surgery or oncology, and a personalised treatment plan based on stage and tumour biology.
That plan can involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Dr. Greaves urges everyone to ignore the naysayers, prioritise their health, and say to themselves, “I need to be screened,” because empowerment begins with taking that first step.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to create awareness, honour the millions of lives affected by breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide.
