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By Sheila Kimani (@sheilakimm)
“Some people will never understand what Cancer is all about, until it stares at them in the face. Sadly, I was in that class of people and today, I wish cancer awareness could spread more and save potential victims.” Judy, a breast cancer patient narrates while commemorating the worldwide Cancer Awareness day.
In a sad twist of events, Judy walks out of class every time a strange number calls her. She hopes it’s that phone call she has been waiting for, a call that tell her that she’s found a sponsor to cater for her radio therapy treatment. Better yet, one that can tell her that the Breast cancer diagnosis was faulty and that she is cancer free, but it’s a steep hill to climb.
She is a teacher in a small private school in Dandora often staying jovial for the kids. But deep inside, she struggles, looking for that small part of her spirit that has not given up yet. Besides coming from a very financially unstable background, the monster that is on everyone’s mouth has finally caught up with her before she is 40 years old.
This meant months in and out of hospital which was somehow bearable. What she was not prepared for was the long wait for radiotherapy treatment. You see cancer unlike most diseases does not wait for treatment, it spreads fast and the longer a patient has to wait for treatment, the more chronic it becomes
One year later Judy still walks out of class to pick all strange numbers that call her in the hope that her miracle has finally arrived while still waiting for her chance to get radio therapy treatment in the local hospitals. Judy story is just one of the 1800 stories that hang a very dark cloud in Kenya’s healthcare.
“We can sit and blame the government till 2030, or can find a way to do a great cause and help fellow Kenyans through the life to life foundation. If one million Kenyans donate 200 shillings each, Kenyan patients on the public hospital radiotherapy treatment waiting list can get treatment in the underutilized private radiotherapy centers in Kenya. #WeCanIcan help through the #1800CancerStories by 1800 Kenyan cancer patients.” Miss Ikira of the Life to Life cancer Awareness campaign mentioned.
