Cancer patients urge State to lower treatment cost

When Rita Opondo was told by a doctor that they were going to undergo a mastectomy, she thought it was a joke.

She had never accepted that she had breast cancer.

“We had just buried my sister who succumbed to breast cancer and the memories were still fresh. I did not want to imagine that my mother was going to lose two daughters to the disease,” said Rita.

On her way to the market one day, she met Mildred Ogolla, a cancer survivor and counsellor who engaged her and she accepted her situation.

“It is better when it is removed at an early stage rather than waiting. It will cost you pain and agony. I am a survivor because mine was detected early and I accepted,” she said.

Cancer claims 76 lives every day according to the Ministry of Health.

“All I wanted was to die because I knew my life would never be the same again and that I was going to lose my breast at 36 years,” Rita, a teacher said

After several counselling sessions, she accepted the reality of her situation. “After the process, I knew I had a reason to live,” she said.

However, as she was embarking on her journey of acceptance, the unfortunate happened.

“The stigma began when my breast started sagging. Everyone who came near me would point at it and laugh, but I did not lose hope,” said Rita.

She also did not stop teaching and the courage she got from her husband and children made her soldier on.

FAMILY SUPPORT
Despite accepting her situation, her family went through several financial challenges for her to be where she is now.

“It was not easy. I was using Sh20,000 monthly,” Rita said adding: “Getting money for the visits was not easy. We had to sell everything for me to finish my chemotherapy.”

She hopes that the government will lower the cost of cancer treatment.

For John Opondo, a farmer from Awasi, he had to skip some hospital visits because he did not have money for chemotherapy.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer of the throat in August last year, I did not know the pain and cost that the disease would impact in my life,” said Calvin Okuta, a patient.

He has skipped two months of chemotherapy.

“Every month, I am required to come for chemotherapy which costs Sh20,000. With my job, I cannot afford this amount every month,” Okuta said.

He was to finish his treatment late last year but it has been pushed to April because he skipped some months.

“I am drained. I do not know whether I will manage to pay for the remaining two months. I am hoping for the best,” he added.

He is among patients hoping for reduced cost of cancer treatment.