Losing my breast was my biggest nightmare

In October 2013, she felt a lump below the nipple in the left breast while she was bathing. She ignored it because it was not painful but later disclosed to her sister, who advised that she goes for screening because it was free at Nsambya hospital.

Ms Eunice Sebikaari, a single mother and a professional caterer, once suffered from breast cancer and now helps empower other cancer patients.

Diagnosis
“I kept procrastinating until December because that was the time I would be on work leave so I went to Nsambya hospital. While examining her breast, the nurse felt the lump and recommended that I do a biopsy which would cost me Shs88,000,” she recalls.

She returned after a week to do the biopsy. A week later, she was called to pick her results.
“I went alone. I was not scared because I was not feeling pain and therefore never suspected it would be a cancer. To my shock, the doctor said the cells were found to be cancerous. I was very devastated. I did not know anyone in my family that had cancer,” she says.

Denial and disbelief
For some time, she lived in shock and disbelief. About mid-December, the doctor had recommended a surgery to remove the breast or the cancer would spread.
After weeks of denial, her sister who is a doctor took her to Dr Victoria Walusansa, an oncologist at Uganda Cancer Institute for another screening, but the results were still the same. The cancer was at stage II.

“I did not have insurance but my family was with me and very supportive. They collected money for my treatment. On January 23, 2014, I had surgery. Losing my breast was one of the horrible nightmares I dreaded. I felt like I was going to lose my dignity and womanhood,” she recalls.
As she lay in theatre, lost in thought, a woman suddenly entered. She introduced herself and said she was coming from Uganda Women’s Cancer Support Organisation (UWOCASO).

UWOCASO is a group of breast cancer survivors. It is the first cancer support organisation in Uganda. The organisation’s main aim is to give psychosocial support to women and their families experiencing breast cancer.
The lady expressed her gratitude to UWOCASO because she was able to go through the cancer ordeal positively.
“That woman resurrected the dead soul in me,” Ms Sebikaari remarks. “She, too, did not have one of her breasts but she was positive and happy that she had healed from cancer. She had a prosthetic bra and if she had not showed me, I would not believe her breast had been removed.”
By the start of her surgery, Ms Sebikaari was positive that she was going to be better.

Treatment
After a month of healing, only a scar remained at the area she was operated on. She was also ready to start on chemotherapy.
She says: “I knew that the queue was overwhelming so I would be there by 6am and went by myself but after receiving the treatment, I would become drowsy, throw up and needed someone to pick me up from the hospital.”
Her sister would pick her from hospital and after treatment, the next day Ms Sebikaari would prepare her own breakfast.

The chemotherapy was in a three-weeks spacing for six cycles which she received on Fridays. Ms Sebikaari would go to work on Monday because she needed to support her family and continue with treatment as well.
“I was lucky that I only lost weight because I did not have appetite and my palms darkened. My hair, however, did not fall off like other colleagues that were undertaking the same treatment. I would force myself to drink millet porridge which was my main beverage. I had to ensure that my heamoglobin was at the required level.”

She never got a blood transfusion and during the treatment, the single mother would meet with other patients which made her become stronger and move on positively. Ms Sebikaari narrates that she was very fortunate that by the time the radiotherapy machine broke down, she was through with the treatment.
“My radiotherapy sessions were on Monday to Friday from 7pm to 9pm for 21 days. Sometimes, there would be emergencies and I would get out at 11pm. I am glad that my cancer was detected so early and did not need hormonal therapy because my hormonal receptors were negative.

Life thereafter
She continued going for review every six months and thereafter an annual review and this year, she was declared cancer free.
As a breast cancer survivor, Ms Sebikaari is very passionate about empowering other women to survive breast cancer and seek medical interventions early, for a better diagnosis.

“I am also a professional caterer and enjoy making delicious healthy meals for people especially the sick. I am charismatic, self-driven and have managed several complex situations that have enhanced my resilience and determination.”
Ms Sebikaari also wants to continue supporting and elevating people with cancer to go for treatment and avoid being deceived that herbs treat cancer.

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