FROM the moment in February 2023 when Simonea Brooks-Service first saw signs of what eventually would be confirmed as colon cancer, she knew something was terribly wrong despite the assurance from a doctor that it was haemorrhoids. After three weeks of medication and no improvement, Brooks-Service went back to the doctor, who maintained his initial diagnosis.

“There was even more blood in my stool than before and he insisted that it was haemorrhoids, based on the examination that he had done. I wasn’t feeling any discomfort, but I wasn’t convinced; it just didn’t feel right. So, I got a second opinion, and that doctor wrote a referral for me to see a GI specialist, who did a colonoscopy. That’s how they discovered the tumour in my colon,” recalled Brooks-Service, adding that it took the specialist two minutes to complete the procedure which usually takes at least a half-hour.

With the discovery of the mass and the fact that her colon was 80 per cent blocked, the gastroenterologist referred her to a surgeon to have it removed quickly, even as they awaited the results of a biopsy.

“They told me that it looked like cancer and that it was the aggressive kind. My surgeon said, based on where the tumour was located, he wanted to get an MRI before putting me on the table. By the time the biopsy results came and the cancer was confirmed we were at the end of May, and no matter where we tried, I couldn’t get a timely appointment to do an MRI here. My family and I had made previous travel plans for June, and I decided to go. It was a very sad trip,” she shared.

The 44-year-old said during her vacation she was rushed to the emergency room — where her sister worked as a nurse assistant — where they did some tests, followed by surgery at the private facility. Through a miraculous turn of events Brooks-Service says she ended up in a cancer treatment programme for chemotherapy after surgery, which she could never have afforded on her own.

“All I can say is God has been on my side during this whole ordeal. I remember when they took out the tumour and the pathology report came back and said it was ‘Stage 3’, I cried the hardest. I bawled for hours knowing that this meant that I would need treatment, and I didn’t know where to start. I took ‘knee city’ for it and I said, ‘God, you have to show me the next step.’ He came through for me and, long story short, I was accepted into a programme for six months of treatment. One of my biggest fears was losing my hair but, somehow, even after six months of chemo my hair didn’t fall out, thank God,” she noted.

Dealing with the stress of managing a serious illness and being away from her husband and minor children for several months, Brooks-Service, the customer service and client retention manager at Access Financial Services, said she was grateful that she didn’t have to worry about her job.

“I sent an e-mail to my manager outlining the situation, and the senior management team was very supportive. Our VP followed up with me after surgery. The company approved extended sick leave for me and I was paid 75 per cent of my salary, which ensured that my bills were covered. I want to publicly thank Access for all the support they gave me; I never felt rushed to come back to work. I came home in March this year and returned to the office in May. That first day was so special. It was such a warm welcome from everyone. Management and the team came out and lined the hallway, and everyone greeted me so warmly,” said Brooks-Service.

Now in remission, the mother of two says she’s doing everything she can to stay healthy and encourage others to take charge of their health. Noting that the experience has been very challenging mentally, Brooks-Service is remaining positive and grateful for life.

“I hope in sharing my story it might help someone be more assertive when it comes to their health. Listen to your body. Take nothing for granted. Follow your mind and you can’t go wrong. Take everything seriously. Always check everything out. If it doesn’t sit well with you, get a second opinion. Do your own research. Yes, Google can make you paranoid if you’re not careful but it can also help to open your eyes about things that seem off in the body. And finally, use discernment and don’t ever forget to pray and trust God.”