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DOCTOR Talkmore Maruta survived cancer and feels he should go public to thank God for saving his life and also as part of spreading the message that cancer is not a death sentence.
He said some of his closest colleagues were hearing this for the first time.
“Some of those who know me, may be hearing this for the first time but, indeed, yes, I am a surviving cancer patient,” he said.
“On the 6th of September 2022, I was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of colon tumor.
“This was after a long time of battling with abdominal pains, battling with stomach pains, of which I could not get a proper explanation for or get proper diagnosis and treatment for.
“But, after going to see some specialists, this was, indeed, confirmed that it was Adenocarcinoma of the colony on the 6th September 2022.
“After this diagnosis, there are two major things that happened.
“Firstly, the physicians told me that, ‘we needed to remove the cancerous growth that was there in my colony’ as soon as possible.
“So, I listened, we went in for an almost 6-hour theatre procedure to remove this growth.
“Secondly, in November 2022, I was admitted at a cancer treatment hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, where I started my chemotherapy.
“I was put on a six-cycle chemotherapy, six-cycle means twelve sessions of chemotherapy over a period of at least six months.”
He added: ‘‘So, since November 2022, every two weeks, I was admitted at the Cancer disease hospital in Lusaka, for two to three days, for me to receive the treatment.
“One may be asking why am I coming to you publicly talking about this? I am doing this mainly for three reasons.
“Firstly, being told that you have cancer, or your loved one being told that they have cancer is almost equated with death.
“When anyone is told so, it is also associated with, ‘how many weeks, how many months are left for your life,’ but here I am, a life example, coming to you, telling you that having cancer is not necessarily the end of life.”
He said the advice of the experts was priceless.
“I listened, I obliged and today I celebrate the completion of a six-month cancer treatment regime, it is not easy, that is not what I am saying, but I want to tell you that cancer is a treatable disease.
“Another celebration is that the day I completed my 12th chemo session, was on the 8th of April 2023, it was also my birthday, and it was also my daughter’s birthday, what a triple celebration for me.
“The third reason why I came to talk to you today publicly is that I had never been able to talk to anyone in detail about this situation and now I am doing that.
“It’s about spreading the message.”
Online Reporter