Twenty-nine years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, 59-year-old Shelly Khan can still remember the day as if it were yesterday and how she cried all the way from Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, convinced that her life was over.
But through it all, she survived with determination, faith and the support of those who stood by her. Today, as she reflects on her journey, she is grateful and wants others facing a cancer diagnosis to know that while the road is difficult, there is always hope.
“You may feel like the world is crashing down on you, but don’t give up,” she said during an interview with Kiskadee Watch, speaking directly to cancer patients and survivors.
Khan is among the many survivors being recognised this month as the world celebrates the resilience of millions of people who have overcome cancer.
June is observed as National Cancer Survivors Month, and in Guyana, both governmental and non-governmental organisations have been recognising survivors in various ways.
One such organisation is the Guyana Cancer Foundation, headed by Bibi Hassan, which hosted a small but meaningful luncheon for survivors on June 7. The foundation has about 25 survivors among its membership and, despite limited funding, provides much-needed moral support.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), Guyana recorded a five-year cancer prevalence of 2,775 cases as of 2022. The country registered 1,225 new cancer cases and 612 cancer-related deaths during that period. Prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer, affecting 259 men, while breast cancer ranked second with 229 cases.
‘I Am a Blessed Woman’
Khan’s daughter was just three years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following chemotherapy treatment, she was told she would likely never have another child.
Yet, 11 years later, at the age of 40, she gave birth to a son, who is now 18 years old.
“I am a blessed woman. My children like to have me around them, and even though it has been hard, I have worked to keep my family together,” Khan said.
She recalled changing her clothes one evening when she felt a hard lump in her left breast. Concerned, she visited her doctor, who referred her to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where surgery was initially planned to remove the lump.
“On the day of the surgery everything was prepared, but then the doctor said the lump was too big and ordered a biopsy,” she recalled.
Her mother accompanied her to every hospital visit, but on the day she received the diagnosis, she was alone.
“Oh my God, I cried from Georgetown all the way home to Grove. Even today, whenever that time comes around, I still remember,” she said.
“My journey was not an easy road. I had to do three chemotherapy sessions — one before the surgery when they removed the breast and two after. I had to buy the drugs for the chemotherapy, and after the second treatment I could not afford to buy the medication. But today I am still here.”
Not everyone close to her offered the support she needed, but she found strength in her faith and in connecting with other survivors. Today, as a member of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, she no longer hides herself away but instead seeks to support others facing similar battles.
“I suffered a lot, but God saw me through,” Khan said.
‘Two Times’
As she approaches her 55th birthday, Nicola Schultz reflects on a battle with thyroid cancer that she has faced not once, but twice.
Each challenge, she says, has strengthened her resilience.
Her journey began in 2010 when she was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid and struggled with symptoms including appetite loss and insomnia. What initially appeared manageable became more serious in 2013 when she noticed swelling in her neck.
Schultz told Kiskadee Watch that she vividly remembers reading an article about thyroid disease in 2014 and realising how closely the symptoms mirrored her own experience. She immediately sought medical attention, leading to blood tests, scans and surgery to remove the right side of her thyroid.
During the procedure, doctors discovered lumps on the left side as well.
The entire thyroid was removed, and a subsequent biopsy revealed cancer.
Because treatment was not available locally at the time, Schultz travelled to Trinidad, where she underwent treatment in June 2015 and entered remission.
She and her family believed the ordeal was over, but in 2019 doctors discovered two swollen lymph nodes.
Further evaluations in Trinidad in 2019 and 2020 suggested there was no cause for concern. However, while celebrating her 50th birthday in the United States, she began feeling unwell. Additional testing and a biopsy revealed that the cancer had returned.
Another surgery, this time in the United States, resulted in the removal of 27 lymph nodes. Seven tested positive for cancer.
Now back in remission, Schultz is approaching the five-year milestone that would officially classify her as cancer-free later this year.
Like Khan, Schultz acknowledges that the journey has not been easy, but she considers herself fortunate. Both diagnoses were detected early, reinforcing the importance of paying attention to one’s body and seeking medical advice when something feels wrong.
Today, she continues to take daily levothyroxine to manage her hormone levels.
Through it all, she credits her survival to mental strength and the support of a small but dependable network of loved ones. Having lost her mother, father and two brothers, her support system was limited but invaluable.
“When I was first diagnosed, I dropped from a size 14 to a size 8 in three months. That wasn’t the cancer; it was my mind doing that to me,” she said.
Her message to others facing cancer is simple: do not give up.
“Keep the faith. Don’t give up. Many of you will get discouraged and it may look like a dead end. But don’t give up. Pray and trust that something positive will happen.”
She believes stress can be one of the most damaging factors during treatment and recovery.
“When you stress a lot it does more harm to your body. You should accept what is happening and tell yourself things will get better. Some days you will sit and cry, especially when you are going through treatment, but still don’t give up.”
Schultz has shared her story many times and says she will continue doing so if it helps even one person successfully navigate the disease.
A Mother’s Diagnosis Inspires a Mission
For Bibi Hassan, founder of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, the journey began with her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis.
Hassan’s mother, Amina Hassan, was 67 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now 84, she faces other health challenges but remains a survivor.
It was her mother’s courage and determination that inspired Hassan to become involved in cancer awareness and advocacy.
She first entered the fight against cancer through the Avon company, which operated in Guyana and organised annual tree-wrapping ceremonies and awareness walks during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At the time, Hassan was an Avon representative and later became responsible for securing corporate sponsorship for the initiative.
Over the years, what began as volunteer work grew into a larger commitment.
“When Avon left the Caribbean in 2015, I was given the opportunity to continue the initiative,” Hassan explained.
It took 10 months to establish and register the organisation, and on June 1, 2016, the Guyana Cancer Foundation officially became a legal entity.
Since then, the foundation has focused on cancer awareness, counselling, free screenings and early detection programmes, particularly for low-income, uninsured and medically underserved women.
Among its initiatives are free Pap smears and educational outreach programmes designed to encourage early diagnosis and treatment.
Today, despite limited resources, Hassan remains committed to supporting cancer patients and survivors while continuing the work that began with her mother’s diagnosis nearly two decades ago.
The Guyana Cancer Foundation is located at 351 East Street, North Cummingsburg, between Lamaha and New Market streets. Hassan can be contacted on 624-312.
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