DESPITE receiving a clean bill of health from her doctors in May 2024, one year ago cancer survivor Simonea Brooks-Service did not feel strong enough to join her colleagues at Access Financial Services as the team participated in the annual Jamaica Reach to Recovery Pink Run.

This year, however, the 45-year-old customer service and client retention manager was a team leader for the company’s internal activation which played out during the 5k running event. Brooks-Service was one of 46 employees who participated in the fundraiser which focuses on generating money for breast cancer screening, testing, and treatment.

“I give thanks for life and for the chance to live it differently. If you had told me in November 2023 that I would be out here jogging and walking with my colleagues on a 5k, I would’ve said it was farfetched. But I never stopped believing I would beat this thing. I knew somehow, even when I faced major roadblocks, I knew I would get well,” said Brooks-Service.

For this mother of two, the last two and a half years have been a lesson in faith, which taught her the importance of family and support and the power of prayer. She recalls the anxiety and distress that came with the initial colon cancer diagnosis and how faith helped her navigate the stress of the period.

“After the colonoscopy, it was so surreal. I never thought I would go through something like this. It was denial at first, but by the time I got the results of the biopsy, I said Lord, if you brought me to this, then you will bring me through it. When people around me cried, I never felt doom and gloom. I remember the doctor saying, ‘Simonea, you can cry enuh, I have tissue’. I am a naturally fearful person, but I didn’t feel that overwhelming fear, and all I can say is that it was just God,” she asserted.

With a new lease on life, Brooks-Service says she uses every opportunity to educate the people in her circle about the disease, sharing her story with as much detail as possible.

“People ask questions. They ask about the signs, and I tell them what was happening to my body, so they understand that you don’t have to be feeling pain to realise something is wrong. I have been very vulnerable with them. I give them details. You have to pay attention to the little things, like your bodily functions and watch for changes,” she explained.

These days, this cancer warrior is leaner than before, having lost 25 pounds, not due to illness but because of deliberate decisions to cut the amount of sugar and carbs in her diet, and to take advantage of opportunities to move.

“Last year when I came back to work I was breathless after going up one flight of stairs. I had to make some changes. Life is always happening, but you have to find the time to stay active. When I saw the notice about Pink Run I volunteered right away to be a team leader,” she shared, proudly adding that she finished the 5k run/walk in 56 minutes, a feat she could not have achieved a year ago.

As she continues to focus on fitness and advocacy, Brooks-Service is challenging the notion that life ends after a cancer diagnosis. “Cancer is not a death sentence. You have to fight and keep a positive attitude. Even when my red blood cells were low and we had to pause chemo, I never felt flustered. I would get up and pretty up myself. I needed my kids to see me strong. I encourage my colleagues to do their health checks because early intervention works. Prioritise your health. Keep stress levels to a minimum and don’t hesitate to walk away from anything that doesn’t serve you,” she said.