Cancer fighter believes God has already beat her disease

Despite losing her mother to breast cancer, Michelle Boxill Dunkley is certain that she will beat the disease because just one week before her diagnosis, God told her that everything would be alright.

The Trinidad and Tobago native, who has been living in Jamaica for 34 years, said that she was home when her doctor called her on Saturday, September 19, 2020, to give her the bad news. But she said that she already knew.

"I would've already known, 'cause I'm a Christian and I have a firm belief in God and He already told me it was gonna be positive. One of the things He said to me too is that 'it is well, it's going to be that way, but it is well'. That's what I have held on to throughout the journey," Boxill Dunkley said.

Her mother was diagnosed and died from breast cancer in 1994. She also has an older sister who was diagnosed with the same thing in January 2020. However, Boxill Dunkley, who has been a guidance counsellor for 26 years, said that despite losing her mother , she was not worried because at that time, not much medical research was available to understand the disease and the technology to help people beat it was limited.

"Early detection is key, cancer does not have to be a death sentence. In my mother's time, there were a lot of things that were different than today; our chances of survival are much greater," the 54-year-old said.

Boxill Dunkley, who considers herself a two-year survivor, even though she is yet to be declared cancer free, expressed certainty that she will beat this disease because of her faith that God will be true to His word.

"There are times when you think about what's happening and the fact that things will probably never be the same, you know as they were, but I'm still alive and still have a lot to give thanks for. I believe I still have many, many good years ahead of me," Boxill Dunkley said.

Still, her battle against this disease has not been an easy one, and like many others, she has experienced many side effects one of which is nerve damage. This causes an uncomfortable tingling sensation in her hands and feet. She added that the experience of losing her hair was a difficult and emotional one.

"That was probably the most emotional part for me because when I looked in the mirror, I was seeing somebody totally different. I looked at him [her husband] one day and said to him 'I look like an alien', and he laughed at me but I was looking back at this person and it just wasn't me," she said.

She is currently trying to confirm whether or not the disease has spread because different tests are producing conflicting results.

"It's a little strange because every time I do my [CT] scan it shows that the cancer has spread to my spine and my bone but I've never accepted that, so I just go a step further and do a bone scan which shows that there is no spread. But my doctor said ... to probably do what is called a PET scan, which is pretty expensive, but will give a clearer view of what's happening," Boxill Dunkley said.

The mother of two adult children and a wife for 31 years, Boxill Dunkley said she has a wonderful support system that has helped her along this journey.

"All four of us went to every appointments. So I had a lot of support from them, [and] my church family. I had a whole lot of support. My school family [at St Andrew Technical High School] were a lot of support and still are," Boxill Dunkley said.

She added that her battle against breast cancer has strengthened her marriage, bringing her and her husband closer together. She advised those currently battling the disease to find a support system to help them through the difficult journey.