 We are looking into matters of cancer, being the breast cancer month that is last year, last month was cancer for children and now we are looking into breast cancer, speaking to Jen Francis, a lecturer at the JQR, that is Jamukha Nyata University of Agriculture and Technology, good evening. Thank you for coming once again and last time we had a conversation it was a rushed one and we needed to get something. But today I need us to communicate to someone out there, we need to speak to even the young people because a mage to understand cancer doesn't choose just like covid, they choose who is cancer and cancer has been here for a while. But now to begin with I would like us to get to your story and I would want to know when were you diagnosed with cancer. I was diagnosed in 2014 and I was 48 years old and I remember when I was diagnosed at the same time a lady nurse in the hospital was being treated who had also just been going through the treatment and she was 24. So we can imagine she was half my age and I was 48 so just to say that cancer doesn't choose that you are old or of course the older you get the higher the risk factors. Actually age alone is a risk factor but also young people just like children can get cancer. And at this 2014 what stage were you? The stage of the cancer was discovered at stage 3b quite advanced in fact it was. I remember my doctor telling me had you waited for a week or two it could have gone to stage 4 and there is nothing they could have done for me. So that was very scary and when there is nothing we can do for you. So you start moving like you know adrenaline starts working so you have to move very fast to start the treatment. Alright and at this stage what prompted you to go to the hospital? How were things for you? How was it detected to be cancer? Because it was the left breast so I started scratching actually almost like 2-3 years ago. You know that each you have an itch and you want to scratch and every other time it would come then I would go buy some cream, I applied stops, I would change my blouses from like nylon to cotton. You know like when I see a doctor that's what they would tell me and so forth but it continued for like 2-3 years. So when it became too much and then I was a bit busy because I was also in between lecturing I was doing my PhD studies. So I was also a bit busy to concentrate to listen to my body but when I finished my coursework you have now to start research. So I had some time that period as I was now looking for money to start the research I thought now let me take time because also I had an issuance to do some tests here and there and really check why this continues. And then of course once in a while you watch October month because that's when there is a lot of this and you hear somebody was and my mother started telling me don't take it lightly so that scratching was not normal. And finally I went and did several tests ultrasound chest scan and so forth and then finally an ultrasound was found the tumor under the left breast. It was quite hidden and in fact I think was it not for somebody who knew me very well a classmate who is a radiotherapist I may not even have discovered it because she really took a lot of time on it. Now as a human we have a problem with receiving the message the acceptance you have been told you have cancer how did you react at that point and how did you get out of the shock if any. Luckily for me I had a good doctor that read the information in a good way despite the fact that it came in bits and pieces but again also because they were trying to confirm because you need to do a different test even after they see the tumor. They still want to do what they call a first test NFNA fine needle assessment and it's painful so they did it twice and they want to be sure for two things one is it really cancer and if so actually not three. Is it really cancer if so which stage and then which type because there are different types of cancer. So like now me they told me I'm triple negative other people are homono positive and so forth and negative. So all these things took time from April until June that's when I really knew this is the type of cancer I have this the stage. And now the doctor who finally did the biopsy and read for me the results said unfortunately it's quite advanced and I think also doing the FNA several times made the breast not look very nice. So I was told to start immediately with chemo therapy not surgery. Wow and this chemo many people speak of the chemo they do not know what happens in the chemo what does it take. Actually what is chemo for someone who always hears about chemotherapy. Okay I would speak from Aleman's language what for me I understood because I asked now of course even me when I was told now you have cancer and these are your three forms of treatment. I wanted to understand what what is this what is came because you know when when it's not you you never even think about it even people listening to me there. Unless they know somebody who has cancer they may not even bother with it. So until now it touches you then you want to know so. Chemo therapy from me what I understood is he has a medication but it is like poisonous to the cancer cells so that they die. It's a very strong chemical treatment but in liquid form because it used to be put in the vein and they are like three different protocols. I used to see what the first is put then some red medication and then again some more time then another time. So there are different types given because it takes a whole full hours even in between you are given a meal, tea or lunch. Because it also weakens you because being a poison aimed at killing cancer cells science has not been able to to have a chemo that kills only the cancer cells and leaves the good ones. So everything is killed and that's why people fear because when all your cells are killed I remember I did it on a Friday and by Monday I had lost 7 kgs because my body was not used to this strong substance in my body. So I was puting, I was losing nausea, everything you know. So when you are throwing up and you are not eating and you are not drinking then it can take you down. So the secret to survive chemo is to eat very well and to do a lot of juicing. You eat a lot of fruit juices and you prepare a lot of vegetable juices and then also OG and so forth. Because then that way you replenish, you remove the dead cells and then you get back your new good cells. Junior will agree with me in every situation in life we always need support system and when it comes to cancer we always look for someone to lean on. Especially when it comes now to the chemo you feel you weak like you have lost everything or the news that you have received. Now at the point you got diagnosed you have begun your chemo, how was your support system? It was quite tough let me say at the beginning because first I didn't even know whether I wanted to tell people or not. So I'm there like and I'm struggling on my own. I remember as I told you in my lecture you know juwa wali mo ana pesa mingi teacher he says he's a noble profession but the lowest paid. So I remember when I was told I have to start chemo una esa biwa an amount that comes to almost three million and that time the salary in your bank is a hundred because wushatwa nisha kila kitu. So I remember my last salary July a hundred ninety thousand was for the chemo and the other one was for consultation and a few tests. And the second one but you see as you go on and you don't have the money it becomes difficult. And the moment you start the treatment most of the time you can't work because as I said it takes you down physically. So it's very difficult to do your own work. And in my case because it was very advanced it was tijzribi the doctor told me I needed to take five years leave of absence from especially the PhD studies and the lecturing. Otherwise it because I am triple negative triple negative means it's a rare type of cancer less than 10 percent of women have it in the world. They don't know the cause so they were like if this chemo doesn't work for you we are not sure what else. So they told me you have to take to concentrate. So my support system first was the family. I remember how to close my house and go home. My mother is the one who took care of me. And then she passed on two years later also to some form of liver cancer. But my siblings because I'm the first born they were there. Sometimes this one would take me to hospital and so forth. And when the financial burden started becoming heavier at some point we had to do what the first president recommended. Do Harambe. Thank God family cousins and classmates. So literally somebody told me just go to your phone whoever is there just send a message. You have this fundraising and let's see how many will come up for you. So it's the time actually to know you are your friends. And I'm grateful to everybody who has been there for me since then because it's been a long journey actually. Not just treatment here but also outside the country. You just mentioned something that I feel is quite important here. At the time you got cancer you were around 40 plus years. And now you went back to your mother and she took good care of you. And we have a group of young people here who don't regard their parents because they feel like they want to grow. They start disrespecting their parents or becoming something else. And look at you went to your mother and she took good care of you. That's a good lesson to learn. Now at this point people are taking good care of you. Were there any other programs that maybe you were enrolled in that enabled you through your treatment? Yes, you also mentioned the support system. So other than now that one of help to do the treatment the financial part of it the psychological part. And also to understand more this cancer and especially this triple negative. I came to meet other people in the hospital during the treatment. And so they introduced me to support groups like Faraja which is a based at Tempisha hospital. And Faraja was also started by one of our survivors, breast cancer survivor. And it has different programs to help you first to accept their talks every month. And for breast there is another week for cervical cancer. So their talks organized to help us understand. And there is yoga, there is meditation, there is exercises and because when they removed my breast my hand was also swelling. So there is also lymphatic drainage. So I would go for that. And then there is also Afrika Cancer Foundation which is founded by Mrs. Dorothinyongu. So she was also there for me. Actually she gave me a lot of materials to read. I actually didn't know what now I can explain to you. It came already therapy. So I remember in fact my first picture on treatment. Mrs. Dorothinyongu is the one who came to take me in Agakanen. I didn't treasure that picture because it started this journey. So from those support, two main support groups that I came across. At the Agakanen Hospital itself, we also had our own support group Agakanen Hospital support group. Where now you would meet other patients who are going through the treatment or who are finished. So like our chair lady that time she had finished the unfortunate issue she also passed on now. It came back a record. But at least I must say that every month that we would have the support group and only said to her and all those people who have survived that really encouraged me. And I've actually gone ahead and helped to form many other support groups. Even National Cancer Survivors Association. My own cancer information support network via which now from that same time I could go to the media. And because I also understood when the people are told they have cancer other than fear of dying and so forth. There's also that stigma I shouldn't speak about it. I didn't go out there to look for cancer. It just came that nobody looks for it. Even the children who are born and they have leukemia at maybe stage one month or two they don't look for it. It's a disease like any other. All right. I want you to hold on that thought. We take a very short break. You catch your breath and all right. We'll be taking that short break in a while. But before then let's talk about the stigmatization. Because it is one of the biggest problems people have been facing. You are afraid of speaking out of your problem. All right. Now we can be taking that break. Then when we come back we talk about the stigmatization and how you overcame it. And most people who fear to go to hospitals is because they are afraid of stigmatization. Even during this COVID-19 people have been afraid of going to hospitals or getting to being only half COVID-19 due to fear of stigmatization. We take a very short break and when we come back we talk about that. Keep it to Y254. Thank you for keeping us company. This is Y254 Health Wednesday. Today we are talking about breast cancer. I'm speaking to Wanjin Francis Lecturer at JQ Art. And she's very comfortable speaking about cancer because many people out there are afraid of speaking of weight. And especially to the fact that they may be stigmatized. And that's the point we are in right now. We want to talk about stigmatization and how to fight it. Now Jean, stigmatization crops into almost every issue in life. And people have their own myth or notion how they feel. They start judging you for the kind of disease. And they do not know like, nini luqfanikia. But for you, if you were stigmatized, how did you fight through the process? Let me say, personally I didn't feel any stigma within myself. For some reason maybe you also know when you are at least a certain level of education, you can read also and understand what are the causes, what are the risk factor of this disease. And then my grandmother had cancer. So I had that experience. My father also had just passed on to cancer. So I knew even though I didn't know what it entailed. I didn't even know exactly how much the expenses would be. But I do know now that quite a number of people feel stigmatized because I think it's because, for example, first they become a burden to people because it's very expensive. And now you don't have enough money to go through. So you want to keep quiet about it. And most likely, if let's say, for example you are in the village, okona shamba okona ngombe. So feel like you may have to sell this and give your children with nothing. And then you will still go. That's the challenge I think most people prefer to hide. Other people maybe just because you see cancer takes at all on your body. So you've been having a very good body. You know, very well. And all of a sudden your body just goes down. Like for example, I think even the people who have HIV, most times we will never see about it. Or for example cervical cancer. But any type of cancer can take at all on you physically. And when that happens, you don't have to be in the open. You want people to know that different person or not this one that they know. So I think those are some of the main challenges that people fear stigma. But personally, ok, the only stigma that maybe I felt could be that you see one of the risk factors they say for cancer is obesity. Maybe you are big. So I say well, so I used to think is that why I've got cancer? But then as I said, even like my first interview with Victoria Rubadirio on MTV, there was a 24-year-old girl. She was half my age and she was half my size. So did she get cancer because years of the size or what? So cancer, the risk factors for cancer can be now also a cause for stigma. So you feel like that. But for me it's not really necessary and I don't know about it. I prefer to be like this than to be 20 kilograms after chemo. Now another thing that can be, you see they say lifestyle diseases. Brought by smoking, too much drinking alcohol, nya macho may know that. They say they put it as one of the lifestyle diseases. So the stigma will also come because it shows that maybe you are not able to do away with some of this. The discipline of life. And that's why now that's where now the stigma will come. All right. Finally my directors on Me Time is out. You threw your treatment. You found other ways of, I would say complimenting the treatment from cancer. And I see you have supplements here. Like one example, I don't know. Babab, that's babab powder. And you use it when you are doing your uji. That's atemisia. Atemisia is used to shrink cancer cells, fight malaria and so forth. And you know that one. It's also being used even in Madagascar to fight COVID. So they are atemisia. That's hibiscus. You just take it as a drink. It's an antioxidant. That's chia seeds. And also they have a lot of calcium for your body. So you just put it in your water. It grows and it's also very good for the gut system. Cleansing the gut system. So when you're using these supplements they would not interfere with the normal medications. Because these are just natural seeds. Natural vegetables. As much as those. And why I have to use them a lot is also because the type of cancer I have, triple negative, they don't know because it's not humon based. The others 90% of women get a tablet for their life. Like 5 years, 10 years or more to stop the cancer from growing. So me I don't have that. So I have to go natural. This is your camera. I understand you have a project going on. Please give us your final recommendations and your message to the women out there. Even to the men. Because there is also cancer for men. Briefly your final recommendations. So I would like to encourage people especially women and even men to go for screening. Because this October the breast cancer month. Many hospitals are giving discounts. Some are even doing screening for free. So I encourage you to go for screening. And on 24th of October we are going also to have a day to celebrate survivorship. A Thanksgiving day and we have doctors who will come to speak to us at the St. Paul's Chapel. We encourage you to come and be with us if you have cancer patient and she doesn't know how to help herself or himself. So please do come and support us. We have a pay bill number 514422. Whatever you can donate we can be able to use for to support our patients who are very down and also to spend at that event. In a particular way I wish to express my gratitude to Hillary and this team they've been very good for us and I'm sure he'll also share our pay bill number on the social media pages. Can I give my number? 0722 369389. If you have a patient and she or he needs psychosocial support God has blessed me and I'm always there for you. So feel free to call me on 0722 369389 and those others who would like to support us with food, non perishable foods, companies out there whichever group that has unga, uji, rice and so forth please do give us because COVID-19 has also taken at all on many of our patients and a good diet will also go a long way to boost the immunity and help them overcome any challenges that can make cancer be a bigger challenge to them. Thank you. Alright, thank you so much Jen for coming and trying to demystify this problem that has been in the society and back home. Thank you so much for keeping us company. She has been my guest Jen Francis, a lecturer JK Hart and my name is Adereva Hillary. I was sitting in for Patricia Murioki. Have yourself a very good night. See you again next week. Good night.