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‘How we survived cancer’

Story by STEPHEN OTAGE • 2mo

Since many patients find it hard to cope with cancer, survivors have
shared how they overcame the deadly disease.The survivors shared
their experiences, required treatment, and how they beat the
disease.Ms Harriet Ismail Agote, 57, the head teacher at Tiling Primary
School in Ngora District, and Sheila Munyanziza, 57, a health worker,
living and working in the United Kingdom, are some of the Ugandans
who believe that their cancer experiences once amplified, can offer
relief to other cancer patients.Ms Munyanziza was first diagnosed with
lymphoma cancer at Westminster Hospital, Chelsea in 2011.Despite
treatment, the cancer resurfaced in 2015. Fortunately, she was able to
receive comprehensive medical coverage from the UK government for
her treatment.While undergoing treatment for the second cancer, she
inquired on how patients are treated back home.She was shocked to
learn that the radiotherapy machine had broken down at Uganda
Cancer Institute, leaving patients from distant places such as Gulu and
DR Congo stranded.“I can feel the pain of cancer patients, especially
after chemotherapy. Whereas treatment is free, feeding is not.
Sometimes it is not affordable. For some patients, even transport from
home to hospital to get treatment isn’t there and yet the patient is
expected to be stress- free,” she said.Ms Munyanziza attributed her
survival to the exceptional care she received. For example, she was
relieved of the responsibility of covering the transportation expenses
for the 80-mile journey between her UK residence and the
hospital.“After undergoing chemotherapy, the after-effects are worse
than the cancer itself because all cells are killed and this is a point at
which the patients are at their lowest moments.“Lack of proper care
can finish you off. People become impatient with you, others write you
off and other people stop associating with you,” she said.Even after she
was discharged, the hospital checked on her regularly to find out how
she was coping.“When I told them about certain symptoms I was
experiencing, they knew I lacked blood and they picked me up from
home for treatment at their cost,” she said. Her experience further
reinforced the crucial role of compassionate care.For Ms Agote, when
breast cancer was detected in 2021, she encountered financial
hardships in her battle with the disease, having to dig into her savings
to cover a series of costly tests and treatments.She took various tests
and scans for the liver, the renal system, blood count, HIV/Aids and
Hepatitis until a final diagnosis confirmed that the lump on her right
hand breast was a cancerous tumour.Each test cost around Shs700,000
until February 2022, when she enrolled for a three-month
chemotherapy at Nsambya Hospital.Ms Agote had to pay an Uber
driver Shs70,000 daily to take her to hospital. On May 23, 2022, she
was subjected to an operation to remove the tumour.After the surgery,
she enrolled on a second cycle of chemotherapy for two months,
where she was required to report to hospital once a week.She was, Feedback
© 2023 Microsoft thereafter, referred to Uganda Cancer Institute for &radiotherapy
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she was given 50 doses. These were 25 days of radiation where she
had to commute between hospitals at Shs20, 000 a day on a boda
boda.Ms Agote suffered memory loss, nausea, diarrhoea, hair loss and,
her skin, nails, palms and feet started darkening.She says much as
these symptoms may not manifest in other patients, others feel itching,
numbness of feet, fingers, paralysed toes, pain in the bones and
diaphragm.However, on May 23, when her consultant, Dr Okuku
reviewed her results, they were good and another review was carried
out on August 15, which showed steady progress. On August 28, she
will be going back for a minor surgery to remove the chemo port.Ms
Agote attributes her recovery to God, a supportive family, doctors and
her openness about her condition.Her journey was not without
sacrifices, as her daughter postponed her university education to
provide dedicated care. She also had to adhere to the specific food
such as greens, juice, and avoidance of sugar and fatty food.Bill Flicks,
Agote’s elder son, unware that his mother would one day contract
cancer, in 2015 when Ms Munyanziza registered a NGO, Patients Relief
Mission, to support cancer patients with feeding and accommodation,
Bill sacrificed his comedy talent and cinematography skills to volunteer
at her Kiota Corner care home in Kawempe, a city suburb. Here, he
profiled cancer patients and started raising awareness about the
disease.When his mother was diagnosed with the disease in 2022, Ms
Munyanziza’s experiences became lessons for Bill’s mother.In order to
thank God for saving his mother, Bill, who doubles as the founder of
Laughing Tribe, decided to organise the Hilarity Charity show
scheduled for November 3 at City Royal Resort Bugolobi.He says they
have partnered with the Patients Relief Mission to stage the concert to
raise Shs270m to build a cancer care home for needy patients in
Mukono District.They will be working with Kawolo hospital to
encourage cancer patients on their treatment journey.About
cancerAccording to National Cancer Institute, cancer is a disease in
which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to
other parts of the body.Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human
body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow
and multiply to form new cells as the body needs them.When cells
grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their
place.Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or
damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells may
form tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Tumors can be cancerous or
not cancerous. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Related video: The most common types of cancer in the world

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Uganda Yet to Release Autopsy On Foreign Tourists Killed

in Queen Elizabeth Park
The Ugandan government has said it is yet to release the autopsy on the death of two foreign
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Microsoft Start Health Follow

Tofu: Experts Weigh In On Health

Benefits, Nutrition Facts, And More
Story by Faith Seke, Carolina Castro, Luciana M. Cherubin • now

©Provided by Getty Images

Benefits by Faith Seke

PhD, Agronomy and Crop Science (ongoing), Master's degree, Food Science and
Technology · 1 years of experience · South Africa

Tofu is effective in reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Tofu contains

phytochemicals that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties that help fight cell damage by free radicals, thereby
reducing the onset of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular
diseases.
Tofu has a significant amount of calcium making it a promoter of
good bone health.
Tofu is a soybean curd gluten-free product, making it a good
alternative for people who are sensitive to gluten.
Tofu help with kidney function, it contains soy protein which enhances
renal function making it suitable and beneficial to people undergoing
dialysis of kidney transplantation.
→ Tofu: How much should you eat? Experts weigh in.

→ Love Tofu? Get nutritional facts, tips from health experts, and more

What are people curious about?

Mediterranean diet Keto diet
Diabetic diet Weight loss

This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for
medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors,
and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help
regarding any health conditions or concerns.

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1 Rwanda Turns to Sweet Potatoes As Wheat

2
Flour Baking Substitute
Story by The New Times Kigali Michel Nkurunziza • 11h

Sweet potato multipliers decreased from 95 to 47 due to the Covid-19

pandemic.
Rwanda is seeking to increase sweet potato production from eight to
30 tonnes per hectare using six new varieties so as to replace wheat in
baking and thus cut imports, Jean Ndirigwe, a sweet potato breeder at
Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB), said.

Rwanda has started to look for alternative sources of wheat imports

following hefty trade sanctions on its major supplier, Russia.
Prior to the sanctions, Rwanda heavily depended on Russia for wheat
imports, with at least 64 per cent of the country's wheat coming from
Russia. However, Russia is now facing export and import sanctions as a
consequence of its military incursion into Ukraine, which has disrupted
this supply.
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© 2023 Microsoft The data indicate that in 2019, Russia was Rwanda's
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partner where more than 73,324 tonnes worth $17.5 million (approx.
Rwf21 billion) were imported, while in 2020, the United Kingdom came
first with 67,145 tonnes of wheat for $16.1 million (approx. Rwf19
billion), followed by Russia with over 60,855 tonnes for $15.2 million
(approx. Rwf18 billion).
"We have sweet potato varieties that can increase production. Sweet
potatoes can replace wheat in baking factories and cut the wheat
imports," he said.
Continue reading
Currently, Ndirigwe said, 99 per cent of farmers are still using
traditional seeds. Back to Home

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