A PANDEMIC spreading across the globe has altered the lives of thousands, if not millions of people. Many families are left broken, hurt, in pain and in disbelief, while others are grappling with unhealed wounds.
An invisible enemy, whose origin remains unknown, has claimed the lives of beloved fathers, brothers, mothers, daughters, and breadwinners.
In Zimbabwe, the battle against cancer rages on, but for many marginalised communities, access to treatment poses a dilemma due to exorbitant costs.
Former deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, a breast cancer survivor, is a shining example of resilience and hope in the face of adversity, especially during this October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Her personal experience with breast cancer is a powerful reminder that early detection and treatment can save lives. Daily News On Sunday Staff Writer SHARMAINE CHIRIMUJIRI last week sat down with Khupe to discuss her journey to survival. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Q: Madam Khupe, please walk us through your breast cancer experience and how it impacted your life and career?
A: I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Zimbabwe, and then proceeded to South Africa where several tests were conducted and it was also confirmed l had ovarian cancer which was as a result of the breast cancer l had in 2011. I started treatment. I have never been sick like that before. I was doing chemotherapy every two weeks and I was also draining six litres of water at the same time because I was not responding to treatment; the water was rising fast.
My doctor in South Africa then referred me to Harare saying l must be under palliative care. The idea of India then came up and thanks to the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) and the government for sponsoring my treatment in India.
In India again several tests were done and I started chemotherapy and l was supposed to do 18 cycles, one cycle every week, but I did 15 cycles. I was again draining six litres of water this time every week and after the 15th cycle, the doctor said I was still not responding to treatment.
He then referred me to the UK where I did several tests again and the result was that l had lobular breast cancer. I then started chemotherapy treatment and I only drained water once, because I was now responding to treatment, the water drained away.
Some of the costs I incurred included CT/PET for 3 900 pounds, chemotherapy 2 600 pounds per cycle. The CT scan takes a series of x-rays from all around your body and puts them together to create a three dimensional (3D) picture.
The PET scan uses a mildly radioactive liquid (radioactive tracer) to show areas of your body where cells are more active than normal. What this is pointing at is that you need to have the right diagnosis so that you get the right treatment.
At the moment I am doing fine although I am still under treatment.
Q: What kind of support system did you have during your treatment and how important was it to your recovery?
A: My children, my younger sister, my elder sister, my brother in law, my sister in law and my niece were a strong support system , they showered me with love and care during the most difficult time in my life When you are confronted with this kind of a disease, you need people who will walk with you every step of the way and my family did exactly that. I am very grateful to them for their support.
Q: As someone who was diagnosed with Lobular breast cancer in the UK, what do you think are the key takeaways for women, especially in Zimbabwe, regarding early detection and diagnosis?
A: It is important that you get the right diagnosis because if you get the right diagnosis you are likely to get the right treatment. It is, therefore, imperative for women and men to always go for check-ups so that if there is anything abnormal it will be dealt with immediately. When cancer is detected early it is easier and cheaper to treat, whereas if it is detected late, it is difficult, complicated and very expensive to treat like the one l have.
Q: How do you think Zimbabwe can improve its breast cancer awareness and education efforts, and what role do you see yourself playing in this advocacy?
A: It is crucial for the government to partner with other cancer organisations, including the Thokozani Khupe Cancer Foundation, so that we intensify awareness programmes in all the 35 000 villages and towns. This will ensure that citizens are aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer because early detection saves lives. So, many people are dying, not because they are supposed to, but because they are not aware of this deadly epidemic. Awareness programmes will go a long way as it will save the lives of many people. I have since formed the Thokozani Khupe Cancer Foundation after the realisation that more needed to be done in terms of raising awareness to the public and educating them. Unfortunately, we are unable to reach a large number of people like we would have hoped for because the foundation has no funding. As a result, we normally go to places like flea markets, saloons to talk to women and men about cancer and the signs and symptoms. We encourage them to do self-breast examinations and to go for health checks regularly. This will assist in many people discovering cancers when they are at their early stages.
Q: As a former deputy Prime Minister, what policy would you like to see implemented to improve cancer care and support in the country`s health sector?
A: There is a need for a cancer fund to be put in place because it is undisputedly that cancer is a rising epidemic and it must be given special attention. The fund must be used to first and foremost fund awareness programmes so that people are aware of the signs and symptoms. The fund must also be used to purchase state of the art equipment in public hospitals across the country, especially in the biggest referral hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo. More importantly the fund must be used for research and development so that scientists and researchers start to research new modern cancer medicines so that we are always ahead of the disease.
Q: What message would you like to share with others who are going through a similar experience, and how do you think your story can inspire and empower them?
A: As we commemorate this breast cancer awareness month, I just want to tell someone out there that being diagnosed with cancer must not be a death sentence. Once you have been confronted with this kind of disease, please do not be afraid, and tell yourself that you will fight. I told myself that cancer was never going to take me down, l developed this fighting spirit and urged those affected to also develop a fighting spirit. Together we can conquer cancer.