Wenslus Murape
Talent Gore
OCTOBER is now known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and several survivors of cancer have been opening up and telling their harrowing tales.
According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry 2018 annual report, breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in the country.
It accounts for eight percent of all cancer cases, after cervical cancer.
However, most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage as patients tend to delay seeking medical care. The disease mostly affects women above the age of 40 but cases of younger women have been detected and are on the rise.
Speaking at a Cancer Awareness Campaign organised by the City of Harare under the theme “Early Detection Saves Lives”, survivors said breast cancer was an expensive and mentally draining disease.
Chipo Mlambo (46) narrated how she fought breast cancer challenges.
She also highlighted how the City helped her in her journey as she battled cancer.
“During my journey fighting cancer, I faced many challenges, including monetary problems. I would like to thank the City of Harare for helping through my journey of cancer,” she said.
She said, as of now, the scans which have been conducted show that she does not have cancer anymore.
“I had pain in my arm but I never suspected that I could have breast cancer,” she said.
“For one-and-a-half years, I was going back and forth to different doctors and I would get the strongest painkillers but none of them helped.
“When we went into the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, that is when I finally realised that the pain I was feeling had nothing to do with the heavy lifting I was doing at work but could be something serious.”
She said could feel a lump in her breast but she never once suspected cancer.
A doctor she visited during the lockdown put her on hormonal imbalance treatment medication.
Mlambo said this made her condition worse as the lump actually grew in size and she could see a difference on her breast, there were dimples and it had discoloured.
The second doctor she visited advised her to get checked for breast cancer and a biopsy confirmed that she had the disease.
“When I was told that I had cancer, I really did not take it well,” she said.
“I felt as if the world was coming to an end and I was dying, I got counselling from my friends, my children and hospital staff and other patients that I met at the hospital.
“I was crying from the time I was diagnosed, through my mastectomy until I started chemotherapy when I met other patients with stories to tell. I realised that I am a survivor not a victim.
“I urge people to get help as soon as possible if they experience any cancer symptoms.”
The City of Harare is extending invitations to residents to get screened early and share knowledge of how to fight cancer.
The City’s Wellness Section Officer, Jane Mwale, urged employees to help in spreading awareness regarding causes, symptoms and prevention of cancer.
“As the City of Harare, we are raising breast cancer awareness campaigns throughout the City of Harare, urging our workers and everyone to get cancer screening regularly and seek professional help when having cancer symptoms,” Mwale said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter