By John Oyebode
Oluwasina Tobiloba Elizabeth, a 300-level student of Nigerian Languages and Literature, at Olabisi Onabanjo University, shares her cancer journey in an interview with Campus Mirror on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
Tobiloba who has been battling with cancer over two years back, revealed that she found out it was Rectal Cancer Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma, in March 2022. She recounted how she had intense diarrhea in late December 2021 and could not make use of the toilet as there was always mucus and blood whenever she wanted to pass out excretion and had to go through a series of tests before she found out.
In her words, “The first test I did is colonoscopy test, it didn't tell us what it is then. I was taken to the theater to cut a larger part of the mass. After doing that it was taken for biopsy, and when the result came out it was Rectal Cancer Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma. The first surgery wasn't successful because the tumor could not be removed, it was a frozen pelvis as the tumor had attached itself to some organs like my bladder, uterus, womb, and some other organs so it would be life-threatening to penetrate.
“They closed me up back and placed me on chemotherapy, I had 21 courses of chemotherapy and 9 radiations to the pelvis. I also had an abdominopelvic MRI test along the line, which is to see if the treatment is working. After the chemos and radio, I did another surgery, to take out the tumor completely leaving me with a permanent colostomy. It was an Adominoperineal Resection Surgery, that's the removal of the anus and sealing the area permanently.”
Tobiloba let us in on how she has been coping with schoolwork. She revealed that she always resumes school a week or two before exam, read what she can for the exam and leave immediately after the exam to continue her treatment. Tobiloba advised others battling with cancer like her, to have faith and also obey their doctor's instructions. In her words; “The fear itself kills more than cancer, I once thought of suicide as I had the most aggressive and deadliest cancer but God came through for me”.
However, Tobiloba is in dire need of financial assistance, as she needs to go for her final treatment (Chemoradiation) at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) immediately after her examination which would come to an end on April 24. The treatment would cost about Six million Naira.
Provided below, are details of the bank account to make donations into:
Account Number: 5736326016
Bank: First City Monument Bank (FCMB)
Account Name: Oluwasina Foluso Elizabeth
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