NICHELLE MUNROE is the picture of a thirty-something business success story. Smart; pretty; educated with an MBA to boot, and rising through the ranks of human resources management. Suddenly, breast cancer hit and threw her world upside down.
“In 2006 I was living in Jamaica and was diagnosed. I was very young, very healthy, no diabetes, no hypertension, no family history and I was left wondering how did this happen,” explained Nichelle.
Nichelle’s no-nonsense approach to life went into high gear after the news. According to her, it was “how do I get over this?”
“Dr Frederick Clarke, an oncologist in Jamaica, is a very compassionate doctor. I told him to send me to the best surgeon. He guided me accordingly and it was a step-by step-process.”
Nichelle was told after having the lumpectomy that the cancer had not spread, but she still decided to go ahead with radiation treatment as a precautionary measure.
“I went on with my life,” Nichelle said. “Or so I thought.”
That was until 2009.
“I started having back pains and I never knew there was a connection,” she said.
Then she was told that the cancer had metastasized to the bone. The second time around Nichelle admits that hearing the news, she was devastated and went to the United States for treatment.
“I had a brother there and I went to Washington, at Howard University where I saw my brother’s good friend, Dr Wayne Frederick, director of cancer research at Howard University and a Trinidadian. I told him my story and he said ‘how soon can you get up here’?” Nichelle recalled. “They did a barrage of tests and left no stone unturned.”
Because she was far removed from family her and the spiralling cost of the treatment, she returned to Trinidad to continue her chemotherapy.
“I did one chemotherapy treatment that cost $32 000. But I decided to go back to Trinidad because my family was there and I felt that I needed that support,” she said. “Dr Frederick wanted me to stay but I decided to go home.”
After returning to Trinidad, Nichelle tried to get in touch with her good friend from university, Alicia Powell, who at that time was facing her own battle with the disease. It was that moment that Alicia told her that she wanted to start this project, the Basia Survivor Network, and wanted her to work with her.
“She kept saying God saved her life for a reason, what are we going to do,” Nichelle recalled.
At one point I was walking with a cane,” she said when Alicia called to invite her to the launch and her focus was on her own fight with cancer that had left her ill and barely able to get out of bed.
Along with the family support, Nichelle credits her faith in God that saw her through that moment – that, coupled with her mind and mental toughness.
“When I was going through chemotherapy I’d have my IV and I’d be walking up and down the hospital, talking to people,” she said, laughing. “I’ve made so many friends throughout this process.”
Now Nichelle is cancer-free, though she’s on medication and goes to Washington every six months to do a PET scan. Since then Nichelle has become very conscious of her diet, consuming lots of fruit and vegetables and foods that are considered cancer fighters. She also abandoned the corporate world to avoid the stressful elements.
“I started helping Alicia with the network initially for free and then I went on staff with Basia.
“Right now I’m still toying with the idea of getting rid of them,” she said of her breasts. “I feel good, thank God, and I still have to stay on my treatment but the cancer is gone.”
Nichelle, now through the network and even from others she has met, has chosen to help women like her who are walking through cancer with their fears.
“When something like this happens you’re never the same. You have to have a new found respect for God and his power,” she said. “I always wanted to reach out to women because I was always the one to counsel my friends. When you have been granted the gift of life, it can’t be business as usual.”