Woman seeks help to fund cancer surgery
Published:Tuesday | June 18, 2024 | 12:07 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
In November last year, Latoya Linton received the devastating news that she had cancer of the womb.
The diagnosis came after months of discomfort, multiple doctor visits and various medications to combat what she was initially told were non-cancerous polyps on her uterus.
Now, 41-year-old Linton faces the possibility of the removal of her womb to fight the disease, a decision that is particularly hard for her as she does not have any children yet.
Now 41-year-old Linton confronts the prospect of undergoing a hysterectomy – removal of her womb – to combat the disease, a choice made more difficult by her desire to have children, which she has not yet realised.
“I would love to have even one child,” she told The Gleaner.
Nine years ago, Linton experienced a miscarriage.
“I just got up one night and started bleeding, ... [went] to the hospital, admitted to Kingston Public Hospital. The nurse came to me and asked, ‘Did the doctors tell you you were pregnant?’ I’m like, ‘Nope!’” she said.
She described the cancer diagnosis as déjà vu, having spent the past eight months battling to have her concerns addressed and her anxiety alleviated.
NO IMPROVEMENT
Linton said when she first started experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding, a common symptom of endometrial cancer, her doctor prescribed medication, but she did not notice any improvement.
She eventually changed doctors and was placed on more medication and the bleeding started to dissipate, but by that time, Linton said she had become a “walking pharmacy” and the symptoms and side effects left her weary and unable to perform at her optimum.
One evening while coming from work, she fainted. She was revived by a nurse, who was close by. The nurse expressed alarm at her low blood count and advised that she seek urgent medical attention.
While admitted at the Nuttall Hospital, she said her blood count, expected to be at 15, was below six.
She was sent to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where she was admitted and further treated, but her condition was still not improving.
PREPARED TO DIE
At this point, Linton said she was prepared to die.
“I said to myself, ‘God, this is it. [I’m] not finished what I’m supposed to do, but I put my life in Your hand. I put everything in Your hand’,” she said.
Linton said when doctors ordered a Pap smear, the results were inconclusive so she was told to do a biopsy in December.
A month later, she went back to the hospital for a follow-up appointment, but she was reportedly told that the results could not be found.
She finally received the results of her biopsy in March.
“She (doctor) said to me that my biopsy came back, showing that [I have] stage one womb cancer, and I need to do surgery now to take out the entire womb,” she said.
Linton was discomposed by the news.
“I said to her, ‘Hold on. You’re telling me all of this and you’re telling me that I need to do surgery now?’” she said. “The doctor had already gone and booked the surgery ... . I was given the information on March 21, and the appointment for the surgery, March 28.”
She consulted with her relatives, who suggested that she get a second opinion abroad, especially as she was not comfortable proceeding with the surgery without any further tests.
“I asked the doctors, ‘Do I have to do another biopsy or another Pap smear? [They said,] … ‘No, you don’t. We found the thing confined in one area, so you have to do the removal of your womb.’
“So I said, “But you guys found it in November [or] December of last year and now it’s March – three months later. What if something changes?”
The doctors maintained that no further tests were necessary.
Linton has two weeks to travel to the United States to see another doctor for a second opinion and possible surgery.
Noting that she is “pressed for time”, Linton, who works as a purchasing officer, is seeking assistance to fund the more than US$10,000 bill.
Her church family, the Foursquare Church in Cassia Park, St Andrew, is hosting a concert to help raise funds for her on June 23.
Her sister-in-law has also created a GoFundMe account for the cause.
Linton said she is overwhelmed by the care and support and tries to maintain a positive attitude in her ordeal.
“Even when I’m going through my pains, I try not to dwell on the pains,” she told The Gleaner.
How you can help
Persons wanting to help Latoya Linton can donate to her GoFundMe account at https://www.gofundme.com/f/latoya-linton.
You may also donate via her bank account.
Account information:
Bank: Scotiabank (Oxford Road branch)
Account number: 000833721
Account type: Savings
You may also reach her at 876-874-8032.