TRUDY Cummings began experiencing menstrual difficulties from her initial encounter with menstruation at the age of 16, while she was still attending school in her hometown of Mabaruma Settlement Region, Region One (North West).
Shortly thereafter, while residing in Georgetown, she received a diagnosis of a hormonal disorder characterised by symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, ranging from absence of bleeding to prolonged, heavy bleeding lasting over a week.
She remembered that she received advice from several medical professionals indicating that the issue would resolve itself once she had children.

On a separate occasion, the physician indicated the presence of cysts as the root cause of the issue, assuring that they would dissipate at the conclusion of her menstrual cycle.
“I had my two children, but it continued, having problems with the hormones, not having a regular menstruation. Basically, going to different doctors to get help…it was very, very difficult every time you go for that problem, bleeding for two weeks, three weeks,” she explained.
Whether it was medication for hormonal problems or for cysts, none of the treatment helped.

Her condition drastically disrupted her life, as she had to frequently take leave from work to stay at home. In due course, she decided to resign from her teaching position and spent the majority of her time at home.
But something happened one day that made her certain that her issues were more than just a hormone problem or cysts, and finding out was a matter of life or death.

“The last time before I got my diagnosis, I fainted, after bleeding for like three weeks. My son was home, he was like about eight or nine years and it was most shaking and frightening for him…He called my husband and he said ‘mom fainted and she was bleeding’.”
By then, Trudy was soaked in blood, weak and scared. Given the severity of her symptoms, Trudy’s husband took her to the hospital and a pap smear was recommended and done. A pap smear is a test carried out on a sample of cells from the cervix to check for abnormalities that may be indicative of cervical cancer. The results of the test showed that Trudy had cervical cancer, but it was in the early stage.

Although her mother had accompanied her for the results of the pap smear, Trudy opted not to tell her the findings right away because she was scared her mother would not take the news well.
It was only when she got home, she tearfully shared the news with her husband, who reassured her of his love and support, and convinced her to proceed with whatever treatment was available.
Ultimately, after other treatment failed, the doctor recommended a hysterectomy – removal of the uterus – when Trudy was just 35 years old.
“It was an experience that I never expected,” she said.

Trudy, who had previously disclosed fragments of her narrative to the media, refrained from divulging all the particulars of her journey at that time, as she was not prepared. However, on this occasion, she candidly discussed a range of topics, including her worries about living with a “missing” body part, her inability to have additional children, her concerns about the nature of her sexual relationship with her husband, particularly given their youth, and even the potential judgments and comments of others.

Additionally, she disclosed that despite receiving strong support from her family, she grappled with depression, primarily due to the abrupt onset of menopause following the hysterectomy, which led to mood swings and episodes of “hot flashes”.
“One time it was like so much, I started chipping my hair….my mom was coming by me the same afternoon and she was hearing the screaming and when she get home at me, I was sitting on the bed and she asked ‘what’s really wrong with you’ and  I told her I chipped out all my hair, I don’t want it…and then I realised people would go to these mental health places because of menopause … but thank God I am over that,” she said.

Trudy advised that anyone experiencing what she went through should seek mental health treatment/support as it helped her when she was struggling.
She said she is happy she did the hysterectomy, otherwise she “would not be here” to tell her story and inspire others to do medical checkups, pay attention to their bodies and be their own advocate if they believe something is wrong with their body.
To anyone going through a similar journey now – 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, right. You have life and you can live, and you can be someone else’s mommy.”

In addition to the continued love and support from her family, Trudy has joined the Giving Hope Foundation, one of the seven NGOs which make up One Communications’ Champions of Hope group which collaborate to support survivors and fighters of cancer, and to bring awareness to the disease.
Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Trudy said it is important to include cervical cancer in the conversation now because both cancers affect women. Further, as statistics show, cervical cancer is very prevalent even though it is preventable with a simple HPV vaccine which the Ministry of Health said it administers for free in across Guyana.

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

Trudy is encouraging residents to join her on October 27, for One Communications ‘Move For A Cause’ Pinktober run/walk activity – themed ‘Many Hearts, One Fight’ – for breast cancer awareness.

To support fundraising efforts that ultimately help survivors and fighters of cancer, go to www.pinktobergy.masaxcess.com or donate via SMS – Text ‘Donate’ to 620-(PINK) 7465. Also, to donate via mmg: Login to the mmg app; click on “Pay Merchant”; Enter “One Pinktober” and the amount you wish to donate. For more information about One Communications Pinktober 2024, visit pinktoberdonations@onecommgroup.com.