Rika Cargill
My name is Rika Cargill and I was born and raised in New Providence, Bahamas. Attended
Jordan Prince William and Graduated from S. C. McPherson secondary school in 1998.
Experienced in the tourism industry, customer service, managerial service, personal
assistant and modeling. My Purpose only just became known to me after my diagnosis. The
passion to help others.
A proud mother of a 19, 12, And 6 year old and a two time breast cancer survivor. My
journey with Cancer began a long time ago, 2002 to be exact, when my mother was
diagnosed with breast cancer and My grandmother, also a breast cancer survivor of 45
years both succumbed in 2006. I also lost two of my aunts, my mothers sisters and a very
dear friend to this terrible sickness. Not knowing much about breast cancer at the time and
with little or no breast, I myself was diagnosed at the age of 32 with stage 3C breast cancer
in August 2012 and received Chemotherapy. Some dred this treatment, but I’ve fought a
good fight and lived to tell about it.
From 2012 to now my life has been a journey of hardship and determination, but it’s been
an open book to display in all actuality what the positive outcome can be after being
diagnosed. I was tested for the BRCA 1 gene because my family has a strong history of
cancer. My father also succumbed in May of 2016 after being diagnosed in 2012 with
prostate cancer. Since my diagnosis I have been able to take better care of my health and
speak out to those whose life has also been affected in any way by this sickness.
I have served along side the Cancer Society, Twist Out Cancer of Chicago Illinois, The
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Fourth Terrace Diagnostic Center and Sister Sister
support group to help empower, encourage and educate others on the steps they need to
take to secure their health. I’ve also worked with Bahamian artist and Photographer Monty
Knowles, Aliv, Vado Culmer of VC photography and many others to bring more awareness
to this deadly disease by shedding a little light on it by not letting your circumstance steal
your joy. After a reoccurrence I received a double mastectomy in 2016 and I am proud to
say that I am Cancer free.
I am a Cancer Advocate, a Host, a Public speaker, a strong woman but most importantly, I’m
an overcomer, a survivor living breastless in The Bahamas. Cancer for me was not a death
sentence but a life changing experience. An experience I didn’t allow to get the best of me,
but allowed me to display the strength of me instead.
I Am the Cure, a living story of survival, and I have committed myself to encourage women
and men to get tested and be more aware of their body. To keep moving forward,be strong
and believe that you can get through it. I would say to all, Never let your circumstance
define you but instead refine your circumstance.