I am a survivor, says Lydia Gooden-Gordon

LIFE IS fleeting and fragile, but precious and so very meaningful. Though it is short, it is significant. Lydia Gooden-Gordon is a vibrant, dedicated and compassionate woman; a bit sassy, yet reserved when necessary. She is fighting a battle that many would not understand unless they are faced with the challenges that come with a breast cancer diagnosis.

In October 2022, Gooden-Gordon was prompted by the then breast cancer campaign to do a self-assessment to detect if she in fact had breast cancer. During her examination, she noticed a small lump in her left breast, which led her to immediately seek medical attention.

“By the time I reached [the doctor], which was about the end of the month, it had grown. The doctor suggested that due to its size and mobility it could be fibroadenoma, a painless, unilateral, benign (non-cancerous) breast tumour which is common in women 14 to 35 years old. She suggested I get an ultrasound to be sure. To be honest, that diagnosis got me complacent, and I never did the ultrasound until the December,” Gooden-Gordon said.

While she remained complacent, the lump she detected continued to grow. Her doctor requested an immediate mammogram, followed by a biopsy. “It slowly dawned on me that this may be more serious than I previously thought. The biopsy cost a pretty penny, plus the supplies that I needed to get to have it done. At the time, with my three children to maintain, I was in a financial bind. However, with the help of my parents and husband, I was able to do the biopsy in August. By then the lump had begun to invade the skin,” Gooden-Gordon said.

She was then referred to the surgical clinic to begin consultation to remove the lump once the biopsy result came back. “When I went, the doctor in charge looked at me and told me as it is; ‘I am just going to be straight, he said. This is breast cancer. I don’t want you to wait on the results, as it may take two months to return’,” she said.

MIXED FEELINGS

Gooden-Gordon said there began the plethora of tests. By October 2023, when the biopsy result returned, confirming stage-three, triple-negative breast cancer, she immediately began chemotherapy to shrink the tumour. Following this, she had a mastectomy of the affected breast in April of this year.

“I had mixed feelings about the diagnosis. I was mostly concerned about my children as, like any parent, I wanted to help them at least past the worst. However, I came to terms with the diagnosis and began focusing on getting the help I needed. Frankly, I believe mindset is important when battling cancer. Stress feeds it,” she said.

Throughout her diagnosis and treatment, God, she said, has given her a peace that really surpasses all understanding. “With each diagnosis and test result, I received them calmly, confident that He has me. Also, I receive so much support and encouragement from my family, my children, my spiritual brothers and sisters of Jehovah’s congregation, co-workers and friends,” Gooden-Gordon said.

She was also able to fulfil her financial obligations with assistance from her health insurance and the National Health Fund. The doctors, she said, also introduced her to various programmes that aided breast cancer patients with chemotherapy drugs.

“I am a survivor, and each day that my feet touch the ground is another victory in this battle. It reminds me that life is fleeting; and as it says in the Bible, unfortunate events overtake us. But I hold to the hope written in Revelation 21: 4: “ ...death and suffering will soon be no more; they will be swallowed up...” Even if it does claim me, I hold onto the promise that Jehovah will remember me and raise me up,” Gooden-Gordon said.

Currently, Gooden-Gordon is a marine lab technologist in the Life Sciences Department in the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Mona. She is in the process of completing her studies in environmental science.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com