Brave mom looking to beat cancer a second time

At 27, Hilary Williams was diagnosed with breast cancer, and immediately, her thoughts went to her two children, one of whom was a newborn.

After surgery, which saw her right breast being removed, as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she was declared cancer free in 2018. But the cancer has returned. However, she is faithful that God will bring her through again.

Employed at the Metcalfe Street Juvenile Facility as a house mother, she was worried that she would not only be leaving her biological children, but also her wards who she loves and cares for.

"Death was staring me in the face. It was just death that I was seeing and I didn't know what would happen to my children when I am not there," she said. "During pregnancy there was a lump in the right breast and was still there after I gave birth. I showed it to the nurses that were at the clinic in St Catherine and they referred me to Spanish Town Hospital but I was given a long date." But one weekend, a pimple on her breast popped.

"I showed my neighbour and it was very shocking because I could look inside the wound and it wasn't a knife wound," she said. With red fluid pouring from the wound, she immediately went to a private doctor and he referred her to do a biopsy.

"I ended up getting help from family members and neighbours [to pay for it] because they saw the urgency," she said. The results came two weeks later, and an ultrasound was ordered. She needed surgery, but the date she received seemed too far away considering the urgency of her condition. However, a doctor who has been a strong presence since her diagnosis - along with her co-workers, neighbours and relatives - stepped in. The physician spoke to the head of surgeons regarding her symptoms and requested an earlier surgery to remove the right breast that was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer.

"I was referred for chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy because they said the cancer was caused by estrogen levels. It showed up during pregnancy. Maybe it was there before but going for prenatal care and doing a breast examination I identified it," she said. Williams did the surgery in December 2015, then chemotherapy which was completed in November 2016. She was treated with radiation in 2017. Despite delays due to financial constraints, she finally completed her treatment in 2018.

"I felt great and I was thankful to the Creator especially when I did the tests to see if the cancer was gone and they all came back positive. That was an awesome feeling," she said. But last April, she started feeling pains near her armpit area moving up to her chest.

"I put my left hand over the right side of my chest and then I felt a lump despite no breast being there. Later I realised that it was light pink so I went to the University Hospital [of the West Indies] and was later referred to do surgery again," Williams said. Doctors gave her some unsettling news, something Williams would never want anyone to experience because "it was so harsh to deliver". She said doctors did not recommend surgery as they believed it would cause her body to break down.

But Williams was persistent and got a second opinion. She was able to do her second surgery, successfully removing a four centimetre nodule filled with cancer cells. But another hurdle lies ahead as the oncologists have indicated that she may not be able to do chemotherapy and the oral medication costs $800,000 monthly.

"I can't afford it, but I am trying to see if I can get it abroad with help. I am still doing checks to see what treatment would be best for me," she said.

She encouraged other cancer fighters to get second opinions, but also to stay strong.

"Fight, work with your doctor closely and have someone go with you to ask the necessary questions if you are not able to. Take your medication and have faith," she said.

Persons wishing to assist Williams may donate to her GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/2ad0be8b