Ms Kilemi was jobless yet the doctor had advised that she needed surgery that would see her breast removed together with the lymph nodes.
"I felt anger and frustration because I had no job, no money and there were children to take care of. Nevertheless, I had to cope," she says.
Fortunately, her family came through, helping her raise the money for the removal of the affected breast.
Rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed and she is now taking hormone
therapy.
Having experienced the pains cancer patients go through was a major reason she started a foundation to help vulnerable cancer patients.
Ms Kilemi, the founder of Needy Cancer Health Initiative which advocates for the welfare of cancer patients regrets that cancer drugs are too expensive.
"If the government can reduce the cost of cancer drugs it would go a long way in helping needy cancer cases," she says.
Ms Kilemi is focused on extending a helping hand to needy cancer patients and offering hope to them.
"Cancer is not a death sentence, you can have it and still lead a normal life," she says.