‘How I beat cancer’

Source : KUTLWANO

Author : Thokozani Matiha

Location : GABORONE

Event : Feature

 

 

One such survivor is Mpho Banduh Dimbungu, who was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. As a breadwinner from a family with a history of the disease, Dimbungu believed God would break the generational curse. Her mother passed on because of cervical cancer while her uncle also lost the battle to cancer. “Cancer is a giant to people but to God it is an ant,” says the 50-year old Dimbungu in an interview with Kutlwano.

It was in early January 2009 when Dimbungu first discovered a lump on her left breast during her routine self-examination. Dimbungu immediately consulted her gynaecologist who did a mammogram and indeed confirmed that there was a lump right in the middle of her breast.

 Accordingly, her gynaecologist   suggested she made an appointment with a breast specialist.  A week later, test results from the surgeon showed she had stage two cancer, which left her shaken. Fortunately, at this stage it is treatable.

The surgeon recommended mastectomy as the breast also had lymph nodes. That was significant because if the lymph nodes contained aggressive cancer cells, then the disease was more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

 Months after the mastectomy, Dimbungu had to undergo chemotherapy. The treatment totally eliminates cancer in that drugs are applied into the blood stream to attack cancer cells throughout the body. Dimbungu`s facial expression changes suddenly as she describes the process as both physically and emotionally challenging.

“My dear, chemotherapy is hell, every three weeks I had to take six doses. I would become weak, unconscious and my family would be shaken thinking I was dying,” she recalls with sadness marked all over her face.

Some side effects she experienced included fatigue, heart enlargement, high blood pressure, falling hair, loss of memory and loss of taste. Chemotherapy is reported to have in some cases resulted in infertility but fortunately for Dimbungu she already had children. Dimbungu also had to undergo breast reduction and re-construction. Given her big breasts, some tissues were cut from the remaining one to re-construct her other breast. A plastic surgeon was flown in from South Africa for her breast re-construction.

During that period, Dimbungu, a teacher by profession, was a student at University of Botswana and about to write her final examinations towards her Degree in Special Education majoring in learning difficulties. “People were surprised when they learnt that I graduated,” reckons Dimbungu, adding that was despite her suffering bouts of memory loss.

She may be financially low and her lifestyle changed but Dimbungu is happy to be still alive to share her experience and sensitize the public on cancer. Becoming a breast cancer survivor also teaches one a few survival lessons.

Dimbungu educated herself on her diagnosis, studied her self-care strategies and moved on. She learnt to be always cautious about what she puts into her mouth. She cut on fatty foods and prefers to eat boiled or grilled foods with vegetables. Dimbungu also learnt that family was precious because they served as motivation to survive and that staying strong also gave her care-givers hope.

“I would advise people to take care of their bodies, they should avoid the habit of eating everything as that also contributes to some diseases. They should also regularly examine their breasts for lumps for early detection of cancer. Some patients I met during my treatment did not make it and it is so heartbreaking,” laments Dimbungu.

Public Health Specialist (Non–Communicable Diseases Programme) in the Ministry of Health, Dr Heluf Medhin, says 1 331 females and 61 males were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2003 and 2011 in Botswana. However, Medhin would not immediately provide statistics on the mortality rate.

As for Dimbungu, she counts her blessings every day and still goes for physiotherapy. She has an assistant teacher who takes over her classes while she is away on therapy and for check-ups. She  uses her spare time to educate, support and give motivational talks through the Cancer Association. ENDS

Teaser:

“You have cancer”. These are the words that no one wants to hear and it is after hearing such words that one`s battle with the dreaded disease begins. Thus, each passing day you become a survivor in the fight which, unfortunately, some lose...