Cancer is a dreaded word no woman wants to hear. So when Nikita Browne found a lump in her breast, she had a range of emotions. Then the one lump turned into two, then three, then four.
The now 34-year-old told EASY magazine: “I thought that at 26 that age was too young to have cancer. I was scared but I went to the doctor and did the checks and found the lumps were fibrocystics. The women in our family have a history of fibrocystics and fibroadenoma and those were terms I didn’t know at that time existed.”
Nikita said the multiple lumps were tested and it was decided to have them removed.
“Back then I was young and I was scared. My great aunt had breast cancer, so it was always a fear that the trait runs in our family.
“I did an ultrasound and a biopsy, which was one of the scariest things for me. The waiting for results was hard.”
Nikita said the lumps she had were very visible and moved around her breast region. Even though they were benign, the autopsy revealed one had a worrisome look.
For reasons she didn’t disclose, she decided to get a lumpectomy. This procedure removes the lumps and tissue that surrounds them.
“I took out all four. One was a tricky one in terms of how it looked. The percentage was below what it should be.”
Nikita said a couple of years ago she had breast implants to put back the tissue that was removed. It was not an easy decision.
“We live in a society that people judge you. There is a stigma attached to plastic surgery, but not all are cosmetic. For me there was a deeper reason attached.
“I did the implants not for cosmetic reasons but because I wanted to reconstruct my breasts and replace the tissues. I am an entertainer and I wear costumes and certain wardrobes, so I wanted to get my body back to a place where I was comfortable.”
Nikita said she was scared of the procedure and spent a good amount of years researching the right doctor.
“I was aware of scarring as a woman of colour. I also took into consideration the size I wanted too . . . a full C cup. I am happy with my experience.”
Nikita said she spoke it over with her parents and husband.
She said because of other people’s opinion she has shied away from talking about the reason behind her “new breasts”. She said she has gotten some negativity and insults about her implants.
“People will talk and you can’t please everyone. I focus on what makes me happy.
“I am a girl that likes the beach and wear swimsuits. At the end of the day it is really a personal opinion. I have to live with it.”
Nikita, who is a radio personality, said she has used that medium to spread more awareness on the statistics and tests.
The entertainer said there was ignorance around breast health in its entirety. She said that breast cancer was a serious issue and she urged women to get checks.
“I find women have a fear of hearing the news that the lumps are cancerous.
“I always urge girls to know their bodies. If you pay attention you know the changes. Self-examination every month is a priority. It can be excessive for me because of my condition, so I do it every day.”
She says she still has the lumps even after the surgery, so she makes sure to get her checks done.
“My husband is a doctor and he calls me a hypochondriac. I check if they move, if they got bigger, if they still have the same shape. I am always cognisant of the fact that the condition I have will not go away and that the lumps could move into another stage.”
Nikita said she has the Barbados Cancer Society as a phone number as she attends workshops.
Last week she was a performer at City Nights with her brother Jabarri Browne.
“I am so proud of him. He is living his dream. He booked me for the event.
“I was so scared when he told me he wanted to get into entertainment because I am in that field and know how the industry gets. But his dream is to be in Hamilton, so I am happy he has found his passion.” (NS)
