The journey to getting cured was not easy

My name is Joyce Namubiru; I am 48 years old and a resident of Najjanankumbi Church Zone. I am a teacher at Kitende Senior School. I am a breast cancer survivor. One day, before showering, I accidentally squeezed my left breast and felt something hard inside.

Ofcourse this was not normal. I went to a nearby clinic where one of the nurses told me it was not cancer and that if it were, the breast would be darker. They asked me not to worry but I did not feel contented.
In November 2010, I shared my problem with a friend who advised me to do an extensive check-up at a bigger hospital. That was about two weeks after I had felt the lump in my breast. I then went to Entebbe Grade B hospital and saw a doctor who wrote me a request form to be diagnosed.
The scan showed a lump in the left breast but the doctor said it was not cancerous. He also advised me to go for an operation if I felt uncomfortable. Since the lump was growing bigger with each passing day, I opted to have the surgery in February 2011 at the Entebbe grade B.
The lump was removed.
The doctor who operated on me asked me not to take chances and asked me to do a biopsy of the lamp in a laboratory at Wandegeya.

Knowing she actually had cancer
I went back to the clinic alone after two days for the results.
I was alone because I did not know what others would think if they found out that I had cancer.
I took the sealed results directly to the surgeon who had operated on me. When he read them, he sat silently for about five minutes before breaking the news to me that the biopsy test confirmed I had breast cancer.
I knew that was the end of me. I had heard that when one gets cancer, they are destined to die. I trembled.
A friend I had confided in took me to a herbalist in Kayunga who checked my breast. The herbalist told me the second breast was also affected. I was disappointed because the scan had not picked anything.
He asked for Shs700, 000 to give me treatment. Up to now, I keep telling myself that if I had gone with this herbalist’s medicine, I would already be dead.

Telling the children
At this point, my first born was in Senior Two and my last born in Primary Five. All I was thinking about was with whom I would leave them.
I only told them about the disease when I started losing my hair. They understood that they had to study hard in order to take care of me. One is now in a banker with Pride Microfinance and the other in her Senior Two at St Joseph’s Girls S.S, Nsambya.
My surgeon directed me to Dr Okuku at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago who agreed to meet me in two weeks’ time. Confirming it was stage three cancer, he gave me hope that I would be healed.
Dr Okuku took me through the process of how I was going to be treated. He told me I was to get six cycles of chemotherapy, an operation to cut off my breast, radio therapy and hormonal therapy .
I started on chemotherapy that was intended to kill the cancer cells and thereafter go for surgery to remove the breast.
I had to undergo three cycles of chemotherapy first before operation. People scared me when they said chemotherapy was like poison and that so many people died due to the toxins.
I accepted to go for it three times a week because this was the only way for me to survive.
When I took the first cycle, I called my friend, Getrude Nakigudde and told her about my worry of losing a breast. She came home and we talked at length. She then showed me a scar on her chest and an artificial breast. I have never been that relieved like I was that night.

Side effects come in
After the third week of chemotherapy, more of my hair fell off, I vomited a lot and my nails and palms turned black. My periods ceased and I lost my appetite. This lasted for the entire period that I was undergoing chemotherapy between March and August 2012.

Stigma
I did not tell many people because most always asked questions such as “how did you get it?” “Do you think you can heal?”, “Who are you going to leave your children with?” among other. These would demoralise me and made me think that even my family members would resent me upon knowing my status.
Throughout my cancer journey, I was supported both financially and psychologically by close family members, the head teachers of the schools I was teaching at (Ms Yunia Lwanga of Entebbe SS and Ms Muyinda Mande of Kitende SS)
I was a part time designer but after radiotherapy and surgery, I got continuous chest pains. I still teach but when I get tired, my colleagues always help me out. I now I also look at myself as a strong woman with a purpose to serve
I never used to be careful with my diet, I now eat a lot of vegetables, juice from all fruits and this has helped me a lot.
I got membership at Uganda Women Cancer Survivors Organization (UWCASO) an organisation that offers free cancer awareness services.

Advice to cancer patients
Be strong because it is not an easy journey. You are not alone with the disease because cancer patients are many but have just not yet realised. Cancer at an early stage does not pain, do not wait for pains but check your breasts every month.

The treatment

After the first three cycles, I had to go in for surgery to have my breast cut off. I got to the theatre at the Cancer Institute at 4pm for an operation that lasted two hours. At 7pm, I regained my sense.
I had a severe headache because the doctor had operated me before checking my blood level.
I later resumed with the remaining three cycles after a month that was given for the wound to heal. The doctor again requested that I get a diagnosis of all my organs. I did and found that they were fine.
The doctor then recommended me for radiotherapy although I did not know what was entailed in radio therapy. The doctor then mapped me around the breast and the armpits. I went into the surgery room firm because I had now grown accustomed and ready to face anything as long as it was aimed towards my healing.
I was introduced to 25 cycles of radiation on a daily basis receiving one every 7pm between August and October 2012. The first cycle was fine but after the tenth cycle, my skin started peeling off and darkening. My blood count lowered greatly before radiation and I was taken in for transfusion
In October 2012 after radiotherapy, I was put on hormonal therapy where I am required to swallow one tablet of tamoxifen every day for five years; I go for reviews every after one month.

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