House Speaker Hopes to Inspire Through Cancer Diagnosis

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Valerie Woods shared the difficult news that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. This announcement comes as the K.H.M.H Oncology Unit reports a rise in breast and colon cancer cases. When we spoke with Speaker Woods at an event in Belize City today, she acknowledged this increase. She mentioned that she is in the early stages of treatment and hopes her story will inspire other women. Woods also noted that her annual checkup last year showed no signs of cancer.

 

Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives

“I do my annual checks, which I encourage all women to do. Last year I was clear. I was due this October. Through self-examine I realized something was a bit off then I was due and that is when it was confirmed. So, I felt it was necessary to make the statement at the end of the session, because I always think it is important to control your own narrative. I think it is important for not only women, but the Belizean public to know that it can happen to anyone of us at anytime. At the last house meeting I quoted Doctor Yacab, the Oncologist for Belize at KHMH where he gave some startling statistics. I don’t know if people honed into that. But, it is very startling and he made the point that he is concerned that our women and girls are not doing their annual checks. So I do hope it encourages our women to do their self-examines but to get their annual checks and maybe it helps a little bit to destigmatize cancer. We need to talk about it, raise awareness about it and we need to know that it is a community of support. The Belize cancer society and many others have been doing and excellent job, I add my voice to that.”