Tales of joy: This is how we beat breast cancer

Rebecca Kiziri Mayengo, 77

Fought for 17 years

Ms Mayengo found out she had cancer in 2004. At the time of her diagnosis, she was on holiday in the United States.

Before the holidays ended, her employer requested her to do a body check-up before returning to work.

“I went for a physical check-up, a week before returning to work, and,  that was how I found out I had breast cancer. It was on my left breast,” she said.

Ms Mayengo added: “The lump, rather than the whole breast, was removed. The procedure was followed by chemotherapy.”

According to the mother of two, she was able to cope well with the diagnosis because of adherence to treatment and great support from family members and friends.

Josephine Bamuwamye, 71

Survived breast cancer for the past  21 years

One day in 2000, while taking a shower and examining her breasts, Ms Bamuwamye noticed a lump on her left breast.

Concerned, she opted to visit Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya the following day. A variety of examinations were conducted before Ms Bamuwanye was advised to go back for the results a month later. Upon returning to the hospital, the devastating news was broken to her. Cancer had been detected on her left breast.

“I cried after discovering the news. I remember asking God why He had brought such a trial to my life, yet, I was a widow looking after five children,” Ms Bamuwamye told Daily Monitor.

After the diagnosis, she shared the news with her loved ones, mostly the children who gave her overwhelming support.

As part of the treatment, Ms Bamuwamye underwent a mastectomy, a surgical operation to remove the left breast. This was followed by chemotherapy, drugs used to stop the growth of cancer cells.  

Though she was told the cancer was not present in 2001, Ms Bamuwamye said she continues going for checkups from time to time. 

To women battling breast cancer, she encourages them to hang in there and continue adhering to doctors’ advice.

Elizabeth Kabasabiiti, 50

Survived breast cancer for the past  21 years

While breast feeding her baby in 1997, Ms Kabasabiiti felt a painless lump on the right breast. The discovery forced her to visit Mulago hospital where she was advised to have the lump removed and further investigations conducted on it.

“The lump was not removed after personally deciding there was no need since it was painless,” Ms Kabasabiiti said.

After the lump increased in size and the pain intensified in 2000, Ms Kabasabiiti went back to Mulago hospital where she requested for it to be removed.

“The lump was removed and investigations conducted. After cancer was found, the doctors made another decision to remove the breast,” she said.

Ms Kabasabiiti also underwent radiation therapy, a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours.

To women battling breast cancer, she advises them against the idea of seeking help from witch doctors and herbalists. Instead, rely on the advise of doctors, she urges.  

Getrude Nakigudde, 49

She was diagnosed 19 years ago

She came to learn of her cancer diagnosis in 2002.

“I felt a small stone-like lump in my right breast, but, since it was painless, I did not pay much attention to it for almost a year. I did not consult any doctor for my problem at the time,” Ms Nakigudde said.

However, after the lump started growing bigger, she was forced to visit a health facility known as The Surgery in Kololo which later referred her to (then) Case Clinic, on Buganda Road.

A series of tests were conducted before getting diagnosed with breast cancer.

“What followed was a surgical operation which was performed to remove my right breast,” she said.

Acceptance

Other treatments were also considered for her and these included chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

“I also accepted that I had the disease which gave me the will of steel to do whatever was needed to survive,” she said.

She advises women battling breast cancer to adhere to treatment and not to neglect themselves.  

Breast cancer fight during Covid-19 

According to Ms Gertrude Nakigudde, a breast cancer survivor also working as the chief executive officer of Uganda Women’s Cancer Support Organisation, cancer patients continue to undergo immense challenges during the pandemic.

“Even after the lockdown was lifted, some of these patients had already lost jobs, hence, affecting their treatment procedures,” she said.