Creating hope for breast cancer patients in Kenyatta National Hospital

Meetings are held monthly, to not only spread awareness of the illness but also to support oncology patients through the tough treatment.

By Njoki Mbaire Waigi and Moses Njomo

The Patient Navigation Program (PNP) was initiated in 2017 as a collaboration between Kenyatta National Hospital and the American Cancer Society(ACS).

It seeks to address challenges faced by cancer patients as they seek treatment at the Hospital.

The program involves three levels of navigation, and they work systematically to achieve the best hospital experience among cancer patients.

The levels include Clinical navigation; which is composed of specially trained nurses who simplify the cancer diagnosis into a simple language that patients can understand. They also provide cancer education booklets. The second level comprises Patient access representatives/ physical navigators who give directions to service centers in the Hospital. They also provide wheelchairs and stretchers to patients who need them. Lay navigators/ Oncology social workers mobilize resources to support cancer patients; they organize support groups and link patients to support centers.

There are three lay navigators in the Hospital; Wilson Mosbey, Tabitha Wangari, and Tom Ochieng who work closely with specialists, and other organizations to host support group sessions.

One of these organizations is Warrior Glow which was started by UON medical students and aims to help cancer patients cope with the harsh side effects of cancer treatment.

The students are volunteers and take this initiative as an opportunity to learn about the condition and hone their skills to help the cause with activities such as making breast prostheses using wool.

For breast cancer patients, Warrior Glow specializes in helping the patients with the two main side effects: Alopecia (Hair Loss), and nail damage.

Cancer treatment is a tough illness and with this in mind, KNH/UON recently organized a beautification program. The event was organized by Tom Ochieng and Tabitha Wangari, who invited two specialists: Radiology oncologist, Dr. Anne Rugwe and Assistant Chief Nutrition officer, Judy Cheruiyot. They also invited breast cancer survivor, Mrs. Florence Akoth to give and inspire the breast cancer patients on Friday, February 25th, 2022. Her story is of pain, resilience, and victory.

Dr. Anne Rugwe, the Radiology Oncologist, highlighted the risks and symptoms of breast cancer while responding to questions during the session, and this was very informative and much needed. Most patients did not comprehend why others were going through chemotherapy, while others went straight to surgery. She explained that it depended on the biopsy results, and how the results specify how large the tumor is and the rate of spread. The clarification enlighted the patients since some had complained that they were not informed. Nutritionist, Judy Cheruiyot explained in detail the importance of changing their diet during treatment and also gave the effects of proteins, iron and vitamins, calories among others and the importance of exercise.

A very passionate cancer patient survivor, Florence Akoth gave her testimony that early 2015, during a free medical screening at her church, Florence was informed there was a lump in her breast. She was not too worried, however, her sister insisted that she gets checked at KNH. In December of the same year, she was diagnosed with left breast cancer.

During her second ultrasound, her doctor informed her that the tumor had grown from 2cm to 8cm. She then took the results to Aga Khan, where she learned that she was at stage 3. She began her chemotherapy in 2016 and oftenly preached about God’s grace in her situation.

“I help others because I came to realize that God made me experience this so that I may encourage other oncology patients,” said Ms. Akoth.

Her chemotherapy sessions resulted in major side effects and her two daughters received the news with heavy hearts. She however did not give up but continued to encourage her children and other patients. In October 2016, she had finished her radiation treatment, and

PHOTO | COURTESY

A very passionate cancer patient survivor, Florence Akoth

in January 2017, she went for an MRI scan, and when the results showed that she was in remission. She was overjoyed and did not stop helping others in hospitals. To this day, she has been making a difference in this cause, changing minds one hospital at a time.

The warrior glow initiative had various gifts for the patients, such as amazing scarves/turbans, to teach them how to tie them on their heads. As explained by one of the members of Warrior Glow, Wangari, patients who start losing their hair, and develop darkened nails, experience body dysmorphia, which often leads to depression. Teaching them scarf styling will help with dysmorphia stigma, and will help improve their body outlook.

They taught them two simple styles to help them understand the process. The main goal was to help them perfect their tie, and not do it for them.

The nail damage mainly comes from chemotherapy. Warrior Glow explained to them the costs of this care, like nail files, and nail polish to conceal the darkened nails. They also did manicures and taught them how to file. Wangari informed the patients about the affordability of prosthetics. The wool prosthetics help after mastectomy and one can send their size and the students can weave them a prosthesis.

The event ended in an interactive session, where the volunteers and patients shared a meal together. This initiative continues to change one life at a time, encouraging them with these acts of kindness.

Njoki is an intern at the Marketing & Communication department at Kenyatta National Hospital.