Facebook continues to remain silent since the widower of a cervical cancer patient expressed his "extreme" disappointment over the inexplicable suspension of his account.
Elliott Lowe, a 42-year-old from Milton Keynes, shared two photos of his wife, Donna, on Dec. 22 which marked her first diagnosis anniversary. The before and after images depict how the disease has changed her appearance, with one showing how happy and healthy she looked before cancer progressed.
The other shot is what stirred a strong reaction in social media as it was taken when she was dying in her hospital bed. With a significant amount of weight loss, Donna is barely recognizable in the picture.
Donna Lowe Cancer Story Promotes Cervical Cancer Awareness
Elliott's post has also narrated his wife's story from the time of her diagnosis up to the day she died. After receiving the cervical cancer diagnosis in December 2016, it was discovered the following month that the disease had spread to the lymph nodes in her pelvic area. This finding showed cancer progressed to stage 4b.
Donna fought cancer with daily radiation therapy for six weeks. Chemo was crossed out as an option following only one session that caused serious complications. She eventually passed away at age 32 on Aug. 5.
Elliott went on to reveal that his wife postponed her last cervical screening which could have detected her cervical cancer while in its early stages. He explains in his post that men should make sure the women they care about do not miss or forget to rearrange their smears.
Since his Facebook profile is no longer viewable, reports featuring screenshots and copied images are currently the only way Donna's story and images are shared. However, one report says the post gained over 13,000 shares and 17,000 reactions over a 24-hour-period.
This large amount of traffic may have caused the account suspension. Elliott has tried to verify his identity but to no avail. He also said that there was no way for him to contact Facebook regarding the matter.
Smear Tests Allow Early Detection
Although it could cause some discomfort, a cervical screening test is a relatively quick procedure that lasts an average of five minutes. A sample of cells is obtained by brushing them off the cervix. This is done while the patient is lying on her back, with a speculum holding her vagina open.
The sample obtained will be taken to a laboratory for examination. If there are early cell changes, the specimen is tested for common HPV infections, allowing detection before the development of cancer cells. Results are sent back to the treating physician for interpretation and diagnosis.
Since these tests are not completely accurate, regular screening is recommended. To keep cervical cancer at bay, a woman should have a routine smear every three to five years, depending on her age.
