Battle with cancer is a daily struggle

ALBANY — “I’ve sat here before, scrolling through Facebook, and I would see a post and say ‘so-and-so has cancer’ and think how terrible that is and then keep scrolling. Now I see that and I think about how that person’s whole life has changed. I know because now, I am that person.”

In April 2023, Trina Swift was traveling with her husband Scott on business, and she began to have some irregularities in her bowel movements. As fate would have it, that same month Scott was laid off from work, and although she felt she needed to go see a doctor, they no longer had insurance coverage so she decided to wait.

She finally made an appointment with her OB/Gyn for July, but in June her problems had become so severe, she made a trip to emergency room, where she was given a CT scan. The scan showed a mass. Trina’s next step was a colonoscopy but the mass was so large, the scope was unable to pass it. However, the doctor was able do a biopsy.

Eager to know the results of her biopsy, Trina went online to the Phoebe Patient Portal to see if it had been posted, and there it was. Because of her background in the medical field, Trina had an above-average understanding of what she was looking at. She had cancer.

This was confirmed during her first visit with her surgical oncologist. It’s also when she understood the severity of her diagnosis … Stage 4 anal cancer.

“When he said that, memories of time with family started to pop up in my head, and I wondered how many more moments I would get to log in,” Trina said. “Then I thought, ‘How can I make this easier for my family?

“I was annoyed that we had worked hard and saved and were finally comfortable and ready to do some things we wanted to do, and now this. I worried it would drain us financially.”

Scott’s major concern was for his wife’s health.

“Honestly, I immediately thought it was a death sentence, especially when I heard what stage it was,” he said.

Things moved quickly from there. Surgery was scheduled for a colostomy, a reality that mortified Trina, and by early August she received her first round of chemotherapy. In September, though, her diagnosis was changed to metastatic Stage 4 anal cancer. The disease had spread to her liver and lungs.

“Chemo is nothing like I expected,” Trina said. “My hair is thinning, and after chemo I feel like I have the worst hangover of my life and my energy is zapped. But God is getting me through it.”

Sitting with Scott and Trina, it’s easy to note the gentleness in their gazes and to feel their love and hope, along with an underlying sadness.

“I journal a lot,” Trina said. “Mostly about this journey and for my family.”

As she spoke, she began to tear up and looked at Scott.

“He hates it when I cry,” she said as she walked over and sat on his lap. They both said Trina’s diagnosis made them closer and they now pray together and make sure they show each other, every day, how much they love each other.

Trina said family, friends and faith have gotten her this far, eight rounds into a 12-round chemo plan. After chemo, doctors will decide if radiation and/or surgery are next, but for now she’s taking it one day at a time.

“There is no way to prepare yourself for cancer,” she said. She also said she’s learned a lot over the past few months.

“I didn’t know how much I meant to people,” she said. “People have contacted me, reminding me of times they were in need and I helped them. I also realized that there are still a lot of good people in the world.”

Trina was recently recognized as one of the Cancer Ties recipients, something she says she and Scott are so thankful for. She also praised the nurses at Phoebe’s Cancer Center, her doctors and the pastors at Hope City United Church.

During their first appointment, Trina’s surgical oncologist said, “I’ve told you you have Stage 4 cancer, but I need you to keep your spirits up. Your mental attitude is going to play such a big role in this.”

“Some days I feel sorry for myself,” Trina said. “And I cry, then I pray, then I cry some more. Sometimes I feel like a burden, but mostly I feel grateful for every day and every moment. I want to live, but if that’s not God’s plan for me, I’m okay with that.

“If you think something is wrong, go get it checked. Early detection is what saves lives, and if you’ve just been diagnosed, face it day by day, don’t give up and surround yourself with people that don’t let you stay in dark places mentally.”

After all, Trina noted, “You can’t understand what it’s like until you’ve faced it.”

The next time you’re scrolling through Facebook and you see that someone has been diagnosed with cancer, take an extra moment to send positive energy or say a prayer for them. And instead of focusing on your problems, be grateful for the things you aren’t facing.

Staff Photo: Tara Fletcher