The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
SCORES of people turned up yesterday for the Zimpapers Cancer Power Walk in Bulawayo, with cancer survivors standing out to encourage the nation to give support to victims so as to aid their recovery.
The walk made a return this year following the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and was held in Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo and Kariba.
It was hosted by Zimpapers in association with Island Hospice and Health Care.
Speaking on the sidelines of the walk in Bulawayo, a number of cancer survivors highlighted their journey to full recovery, emphasising that being diagnosed with cancer was not a death trap.
Mrs Perpetual Chemere, a cervical cancer survivor says when she was diagnosed in 1997 she initially thought it was the end of the road but through the support of her family she was a living testimony that one could survive cancer.
“At first when I was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 I saw myself dying, I saw a grave in front of me, especially when I was going to chemotherapy. I lost my hair, and up to now I still do not have any hair.
“People tend to shun you when they hear you have cancer. If you do not have family to support you, honestly you will die because of the trauma which you go through but fortunately I was supported by my family and friends up to today,” said Mrs Chemere.
She said after finally winning the battle against cancer her journey was now to support others who had cancer, doing visits and encouraging them to be strong.
Mrs Rejoice Chigumbura, emphasised the need to have a positive mindset once one is diagnosed with cancer, she said her story began with her grieving but when she eventually told herself it was not the end of the road and started fighting she began to realise some change.
“In 2018 I was diagnosed with a cancer that affects the blood and needed me to have a bone marrow transplant and I survived it. The most important thing to know when you get cancer is to have a positive mindset and this will mean that the body will automatically respond to the treatment.
“At first I was so scared but I realised that I had to collect myself, think about my children and my life. I started fighting and I realised I was responding well to the treatment. It is also important to get love from the people around, a good support system means a positive lifestyle,” she said.
Her husband, Mr George Chigumbura said as a family they were especially happy that she had won the battle against cancer, saying that hers was a testimony to all those with cancer that they could win the battle.
“We have been through a long journey which saw us going to India to do her bone marrow transplant after well-wishers came to our aid. It is a joy to see her today with us. What I must encourage people is that they should not think that once you get cancer it is a death trap, cancer is not a sentence it is just a word, so people should just keep soldiering on, they can win the battle,” said Mr Chigumbura.
Ministry of Health and Child Care’s
Dr Natsai Mujuru, representing Island Hospice and Health Care, encouraged the public to do health checks regularly noting that most cancers were treatable in the early stages before people show any symptoms.
“A recent cancer registry showed that over 7 800 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2018, of these 21 percent had cervical cancer, 11 percent, the second common cancer was prostate cancer and then breast cancer at eight percent. It’s fortunate that these cancers which are common in Zimbabwe can be screened meaning they can actually be detected before someone shows symptoms, meaning we can intervene early and treat the condition early, so people are encouraged to do these checks,” she said.
