Shawniece Wilmore was supposed to be graduating at Jackson State University’s Fall Commencement on Friday.
Instead, she’s at home in Raytown, Mo., battling a rare form of cancer associated with the sickle cell trait.
According to news reports, at the end of September, Wilmore went to a doctor with what she thought was as a urinary tract infection and lower back pain.
According to KVVU-TV, it wasn’t until she came home for a second opinion that Dr. Peter Van Veldhuizen with University of Kansas Cancer Center diagnosed Wilmore with a stage 4 medullary kidney cancer called renal medullary carcinoma that has spread to her lungs and neck.
“It is a disease that is rare, but it happens primarily in patients who have the sickle cell trait disorder,” Van Veldhuizen said.
Almost all cases have been in young adults who have sickle cell disease or trait. One in 12 African-Americans has the trait.
“It’s very, very heart breaking to see my daughter like this,” her mother, Melissa Wilmore said. “Worst case scenario, if the treatments don’t work, they gave patients three to six months.”
Wilmore, 23, and her family want people with sickle cell trait or disease to be aware of the cancer and talk with their doctors about it. They’re pushing for screening guidelines, too.
Melissa Wilmore was working a full-time and a part-time job to help four out of her five kids get through college. Her husband died of a massive heart attack 16 years ago. Since her daughter’s diagnosis and need for round-the-clock care, Melissa Wilmore was forced to quit her jobs.
The family has started a foundation to help with medical expenses and raise awareness about the cancer: https://www.medgift.com/ShawnieceWilmoreFoundation