BY MAGRETH RUZVIDZO
As the breast cancer awareness month came to an end in October, Talk Zim Cancer celebrated its Pink conference 2021 in style with the main focus put on cancer survivors.
Running under the theme “RISE: Rally In Supporting, Serving and Screening Everyone” this year, October has been celebrated as an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.
Talk Cancer Zim founder and President Michelle Madzudzo could not hide her happiness towards the success of the event indicating that this could be a turning point for some people who still lack proper information on cancer related issues.
“This day was a very great success considering that it was a patient and cancer survivors oriented event. As the Talk Cancer Zim trust, our scoop and one of our pillars is advocacy as we would want to speak on behalf of the patient and be their voice. But it really makes sense to me when the survivors share their stories on their own as they become their own voice. As radiation therapists we work with them and see what they go through but at times we may not really fit into their shoes.” Said Madzudzo.
“To me, breast cancer month as a radiation therapist, it’s a time for me to debunk any myths and misconceptions people have surrounding cancer treatment, especially when it comes to radiotherapy. People believe that the process is about burning or killing the patient when in actual fact it is a painless procedure and the patient doesn’t feel anything.”
She further explained that chemotherapy is one area that is misconceptualised by the majority but the major reason being that people come for treatment when the disease is already at an advanced stage.
“But I think that misconception comes from the fact that people come very late to the radio therapy institution, sometimes the patient will be very frail and very weak. Then before they die their family or relatives may have the misconception that the radio therapy they had soon before death caused the person to demise,” said Madzudzo.
“But radiotherapy is actually a very effective form of treatment for cancer patients thus why we always encourage breast cancer screening because the earlier you get the diagnosis the earlier you get the treatment. We advise people to come early for screening for a better chance of survival.”
Several cancer patients who were the main focus for the event narrated their testimonies with almost all of them encouraging early screening for better chances of survival.
“There is treatment but no cure for cancer so you are not sure how the process will go about. So it’s better to get screened early,” said Tarisai Chiweshe, a cancer survivor.
“It’s important to be surrounded with people who care about you during that time. It was a tough journey and I can’t believe it’s me who is talking in front of you right now,” she said.
Another cancer survivor Muchaneta Mombo echoed the same sentiments as she narrated how she was diagonised of cancer in 2019 and how she survived the ordeal.
“When you are told you have cancer, you only think about death but two years down the line here I am singing ‘I am a survivor’. I had so much fear of chemotherapy but when I went through it I actually noticed that it was the opposite.”
Sabina Mano, who also shared her journey on how she has been fighting cancer since then, narrated how difficult her journey was but all was made possible by believing in God.
“I cried, I was inconsolable, I wasn’t ready to die but our God is faithful,” said Mano
Although 1 out of 8 women is being diagonised with cancer in a lifetime, there has been a general decline of mortality rate in cancer patients. Thanks to early screening and detection!!!
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