Woman fighting rare cancer hopes for healing

Loraine Thompson's life changed forever when what doctors first thought was dengue fever was revealed to be duodenal cancer.

This is a rare and aggressive form of gastrointestinal cancer, as it occurs in the duodenum, part of the small intestine. In December 2023, Thompson became ill, suffering from joint pain and feeling like she had the flu.

"My eyes were yellow. I went to the doctors and did some tests and they said it was dengue," she recalled. But she was sceptical. Doctors recommended blood tests and an ultrasound, but Thompson paused the latter ultrasound after doctors said the blood results pointed to dengue. But by January 2024, with no sign of improvement, she followed her instincts and did the ultrasound on her abdomen.

"They said they saw something weird, and the doctor told me that's outside his comfort zone and recommended a specialist in Kingston," she said. As her strength declined, Thompson struggled to secure the recommended laparoscopic surgery. With her husband working overseas at the time, she was left caring for their 16-year-old daughter alone in Mandeville.

"I was just getting weaker, so I went to Portmore with my sister and mom with hopes to return [that] Monday so my daughter could go to school. She ended up missing school for a week," she said.

Unable to get an appointment with the recommended specialist, Thompson sought another doctor in Kingston.

"By the time the doctor looked at me, the doctor said 'Oh my you are so sick, you need to be on a ward' and questioned why the other doctor didn't send me to the hospital," she said, her voice cracking.

At the University Hospital of the West Indies, Thompson finally met the specialist, but initial tests didn't reveal much.

"They drained fluid that was causing my eyes and skin to turn yellow, did a CT scan, and sent me home."

By this time her husband was by her side as she went in for the results.

"When the doctor asked if anyone in my family had cancer, I just knew. I started shaking. It was a Tuesday," she recalled. "They told me I needed an emergency Whipple surgery [a procedure to remove tumours from the pancreas and small intestine]." That surgery was in March 2024; the following two months were painful.

"Things went downhill. I couldn't eat for three weeks, nothing in the mouth, just on the drip with protein and vitamin," she said. But guilt weighed heavily on her heart for her daughter, who was preparing to sit regional exams.

"Even when I was in Portmore in February of last year doing chemo she was in Mandeville with her dad but she used to call crying, so I just went home because I knew she was stressed and she had exams in May," she told THE STAR. For the first time in the interview, her voice lifted.

"She is really a hard worker, she did them and got all nine and majority in one's and she got other one's in fourth form," Thompson said proudly about her daughter who aspires to be a pharmacist.

Before her health declined, Thompson was a loan officer while her husband worked in construction in the Cayman Islands. But the family has since been drained by mounting medical expenses.

"On top the six cycles of chemo, I had to do a blood test every time before the chemo for $11,000 and every minute a CT scan; one is for $70,000. Just a few months before the diagnosis, I wanted to buy a piece of land, so I used that and family members chip in. But the blood tests were $20,000 for one. My husband wasn't working because it was a lot of back and forth [travelling]," she said. "This strained my family and we have to send my daughter to school; we have to."

Now further testing is required, to determine the type of treatment she needs. Blood samples have to be sent to the US. She requires three tests, two costing US$1,049 (approximately J$164,178) each, and another costing US$1,800 (approximately J$281,718).

"They can't treat me without them," she said. Though she is still fighting, her strength is fading.

"I told myself this new year I'd get a job and start back my life. I spent my life working and taking care of my daughter. She's my only child. I should be sending her to university... ," she said, her voice trailing off.

Persons wishing to assist Loraine Thompson can donate to National Commercial Bank, Mandeville branch, account number 504 589307 in the name Kereece Fuller.