Catalina is a woman from Guatemala. She is a single mother of four living in Guatemala’s rural western highlands. Catalina works at home taking care of her children and their household needs, and sometimes works as a day laborer in the countryside.
Catalina underwent a pap smear test with the nurses in our medical partner’s women’s health program, and the results of her pap came back positive. Though Catalina does not currently have symptoms, she still needs to undergo a colposcopy, which is a guided biopsy procedure that removes affected areas of the cervix. A colposcopy is often curative for cancerous or precancerous lesions of the cervix, and it is therefore is the best way to prevent the spread of cervical cancer.
With $218 in funding, Catalina will consult with a specialist who will perform the colposcopy. Even if cancer or pre-cancer is found in her biopsy results, this procedure is often curative. Catalina will be able to return home to her children with peace of mind. The procedure is scheduled for January 16.
Catalina says, “I was very worried about the results of my pap.”