Actress Regina Askia has revealed that she feared having cancer after her doctor discovered a tumour on the right side of her trachea.
The US-based actress disclosed this in a Facebook post on Thursday in which she narrated how she panicked when the 5cm mass was discovered.
Regina Askina said trachea masses are extremely rare and almost exclusive to smokers hence she was surprised and tried to rule out lymphoma and malignant neoplasm of the trachea because she does not smoke.
Narrating her ordeal, the actress wrote: “Life is so very precious and no one, absolutely NO ONE, has the promise of tomorrow. Psalm 90 v 12 says teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Let us be kind because you never know what battles we each (sic) are facing. It is well.
“A routine doctor’s check may throw up a curve ball that gives you just a few months to say goodbye. Out of the blue, no rhyme no reason, increased platelets in a routine check led to the need for further investigations. A chest X-ray revealed something of a 5cm mass on the right side of my trachea. What!!!!
“Tracheal masses are extremely rare and almost exclusive to smokers. You cannot begin to imagine my anxiety! How? After working so hard and now when it’s finally time to “flenjor”, this??? What happens to my beautiful children? My 92-year-old Mom could not survive the loss of another child.
“I was planning to travel, to write books, so much to do and now this? I was numb, trying my best to process words like rule out Lymphoma, rule out malignant neoplasm of the trachea in the context of “me”? Someone who has never smoked? How? I have always been the caregiver, the provider, now a possible patient? Sleep abandoned me! Big Rudy did his best to console me. He kept saying “Don’t worry ma, it’s going to be okay.
“I called my mother like I always do when the cares of life get too heavy. She listened very quietly and said it is well. She prayed for me. You can believe a support system of prayer warriors went to work. My family is blessed with deeply spiritual individuals who believe unshakably in the power of prayer. Knees hit the ground in prayers for complete healing for me. For divine intervention. Some of you may have been a part of the Sunday prayer chain.
“Still I was terrified. Somewhere in the chaos of diagnosis and treatment plan, I sank deeper into reclusion. If I a medic could be so shaken, I feel deeper empathy for patients who would mostly be anxious, confused and afraid.
Narrating further, Regina said she decided to do a CT scan to further diagnose the tumour and begin a treatment plan.
The 56-year-old said the thought of undergoing chemotherapy and surgical excision scared her but two days later, her doctor informed her that the results of her tests showed that the mass was gone and she does not have cancer.
She wrote: “Next step was a CT scan to determine and further diagnose the tumour. To me, this was the gates of hell. To me, a positive CT scan result would mean say your goodbyes.
“I prayed the prayer of Gethsemane – “Let this cup pass over me”. The thought of chemotherapy, surgical excision of the mass, left me in utter dread. No, please no. Psalm 91 was my constant mantra. How could I be just gone? Like a candle in the wind? Ha!! It used to be just a song.
“My body tingled as the contrast fluid flowed intravenously and I felt heat. The CT scan machine whirred as I held my breath to command. Again I prayed, my father, may It be your will to let this cup pass over me.
Two days later, my doctor called with results! My tears were copious and hot! Deep gratitude.
Results – No mass, no cancer. How? What about the…. We don’t see it. I was just too relieved to ask any questions.”
