Cancer or no cancer we are still soldiering strong, say survivors
Medical service Minister Professor Anyang’ Nyongo, a fiery cancer activist, Tuesday officially opened the Africa Cancer Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. Graced by a host of dignitaries, cancer survivors and their families, the launch of an African Cancer foundation reflected a message of hope in the middle of pain, challenges and despair associated with the disease that kills about 50 people a day in Kenya. Margaret Oluka, grandmother of the youngest cancer survivor in Kenya -Alexandra Ajoy tells a story of family battling out with leukemia –the cancer of blood.  Alexandra fondly known by the family as Alexis was diagnosed with the lethal disease in December 2010 at age 3. Having no state of art facility in the country to handle her case, Alexandra was quickly ferried to Akolo Speciality hospital in India for a bone marrow transplant where she spent 6 months fighting for her life in an ICU. Baby Alexi has been in India bravely fighting Leukemia that was diagnosed in September 2010. Photo/ Courtesy/ Africa Cancer Foundation. But cancer treatment is no bed of roses; Sh 4million was required for the exercise forcing the family to seek support from relatives, friends and well wishers. As fate would have it, the little Lexis suffered organ rejection and she had to be again transferred for stem cell transplant in the United States where she was recuperating till yesterday. According to Oluka,Alexis is now acclimatizing to the new organ with a few problem here and there like high toxicity, lose of hair and walking capability as a result of the steroid and chemotherapy . Alexis came out of the ICU yesterday and she is still upbeat despite suffering from graft verses host symptom and her live on hope that she will survive the attack. The most adored case of resilience is that of the 9 year old Rose Wekesa a.k.a Princes. The 9 year old is a true cancer victor oozing with umpteenth vigor, brilliance, and steadfastness that is rare of a nine year old. She entertained the gathering with her resounding, strong character and message of her song- I believe. I believe is a moving, heartrending, story of a little girl battling with cancer. “I believe, I will live to see another…” It reflects the strong will of someone who would rather not sleep down and wait to die but encourage others to stand up and fight. Battling hair loss from the effects of chemotherapy the visibly jovial Rose does not look like someone dying of cancer. Rose is a flower that cannot be withered; she nurses a dream to be an oncologist to help fellow cancer victims. Diagnosed of cancer in December last year Rose has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, and has six more to go. Another survivor Francis Kariuki called for information to be availed on cancer to help early mitigation and create awareness, the need to seek medical guidance from doctors and not to shy away from a second opinion for surety. Mary Onyago 48, the wife to the late Aggrey Ngong’- brother to the Medical Service Minister Peter Anyang Nyong who also is the vice chair of TJRC, recounted of her fight with breast cancer. An advocate for a culture of annual screening Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 during a routine mammogram. She called for the public to treat cancer victims with great compassion and urged for the corporate society to take part in campaign to perpetuate the cancer message.  The battle for cancer has attracted compassion from both survivors and right thinking members of the society. Doris Mayoli founder of Tukuza trust was diagnosed of breast cancer in 2005 and doctors gave her 3 months to live. But Doris won’t just die. She still soldiers on and uses music concerts to collect funds to cater for treatment and care for cancer victim. According to statistics read by Dr. Fatuma Abdalla, said cases of cancer infection in Africa are disturbingly on the rise. She speculates that unless urgent redress is done it could easily increase by 50per cent in 2020. In the battle with cancer various challenges crop up significantly among them lack cancer treatment and care facilities and lack of access to treatment due to chocking poverty levels. In fact, only 15per cent of all Africans can foot the cost of cancer treatment with most developing countries like Kenya lacking adequate trained human resources to help fight the scourge. The foundation launched today (Tuesday), the largest of its kind in Kenyan history, marks a great milestone towards a cancer free society. Amongst those who turned up are Safaricom’s CEO Bob Collymore, former Vice President Moody Awori, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Ingrid Moroe the country’s longest cancer’s survivor who has braved it for the last 38 year. | ||
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