Dr. Josephine Kibaru Mbae is an Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, and retired Public Officer who worked with the national government and survived breast cancer.

Mbae has come out and highlighted how medics are suffering in silence with all kinds of illnesses, including mental health, cancer, among others.

She was once a victim of breast cancer, but later on, she went for medical attention and survived the storm.

According to her, women and health workers fear speaking out about cancer due to the stigma attached with being stigmatized by cancer.

“I am a medical doctor- obstetrician/Gynecologist by training, and I am a breast cancer survivor. I have not been very focused in advocacy, partially because I recognize the stigma attached to being diagnosed with cancer,” she stated.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Dr. Mbae discovered a small lump on her left breast on May 22nd, 2022.

However, earlier in November 2021, she had a mammogram, and this made her not bother about a small lump in her breast.

She went to the hospital for another mammogram and ultrasound, through a subsequent needle biopsy, and waited for 14 days results that revealed breast cancer.

“The next day, I was still concerned about the lump, so I went for another mammogram and ultrasound, and a subsequent needle biopsy. I waited for 14 days for the results; suffice to say, those were the longest days of my life,” Dr. Mbae shared.

How it is Dealt With Immediately After Discovery

Dr. Josephine commenced with chemotherapy from June to October 2022.

Surgery in Radiotherapy, immunotherapy followed in December, and she is currently on hormonal therapy for the next 5 years.

These stages are important even if cancer is still on its early stages.

“The doctors decided that all these steps were necessary, even though my cancer was very early, with no spread to the lymph nodes or anywhere else. All these interventions literally took over my life. I had to be admitted every 3 weeks for chemotherapy without fail.”

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Side Effects During Treatment

According to Dr. Mbae, one must contend with all the side effects related to the treatment, such as nausea, muscle aches, lack of energy among others.

Dr. Mbae Shares Her Experience After Interacting With Other Survivors

She said other cancer survivors’ stories were horrifying, and she was lucky on many fronts.

Josephine, due to her profession as a doctor, couldn’t afford to ignore symptoms and was also aware of chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects.

Dr. Josephine Message to Women

Women should not overlook the need for self-breast examination, irrespective of other inventions.

Take charge of your health, listen to doctors and other professionals.

“Take charge of your health and listen to your doctor and other professionals; if diagnosed with cancer, join a support group, even as a silent listener; you will learn a lot which you may not hear in the consultation room,” she stated.

Women diagnosed with cancer should lean on their friends and family but shun negative people and love themselves.

Message to Medics

Medics and other health workers, despite being professionals, are not immune to breast and other types of cancers, so they have to go for check-ups.

“Take care of yourself when some illness arises, the patients and other workload will always be there. Love yourself and get help, notwithstanding the Stigma which is real since others don’t understand how “we let ourselves get this sick”, just ignore and soldier on,” she said.

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Message to Government

According to her, the cancer battle in Kenya is far from being won, and a lot has to be done to prevent cancer and manage those affected humanely.

Additionally, Universal Health Coverage will help get close, but Kenyans are suffering from cancer and its sequelae.

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Cancer Survivor Message to Women and Health Workers. PHOTO/MoH X