The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
“I wish for every woman to get screened and treated for cervical cancer on time as early detection saves life. No woman must die from this cancer as it is treatable in Zimbabwe,” said Ms Linda Sibanda (48), a cervical cancer survivor who refused to respond to the death call of the disease.
She said she was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage “D” when she sought intervention for her unexplained bleeding.
“When I hear that a woman has died from cervical cancer it breaks my heart as such things can be avoided if people seek interventions early. I went to the hospital when I was in stage ‘D’ of cancer and was heading towards a critical state. I survived through luck as some of the people I was with in hospital gave up and passed away. I had to fight and the doctors gave me a lifeline as they suggested I remove my womb to save my life,” she said.
The first symptom she noticed was unexplained bleeding that was not part of her monthly menstrual cycle and when it got worse, she visited the hospital where she was screened. It was and confirmed that she had reached a critical stage of cervical cancer in December 2019. She dispelled the myth that once a woman got treated for cancer and had a hysterectomy as part of the treatment procedure, they cease to be a “complete” woman. A hysterectomy is the complete removal of the womb as part of efforts to manage cervical cancer that would be spreading.
“There is this myth that having a hysterectomy leaves one incomplete. This is not true. Go and consult your doctor and they will explain fully. I had one performed and I am doing just fine. You cannot die because you are worried that after a hysterectomy you will not be a ‘complete’ woman anymore. If there is a need for this procedure to be done, please do it and save yourself,” advised Ms Sibanda.
She also said radiotherapy was also available at central hospitals and one could get treated and save their life.
“We have lost a lot of people to cervical cancer. Both young and old have been victims and it is time we encourage each other to seek treatment because as long as you are a woman, you are a candidate for this type of cancer,” she said.
Ms Sibanda also spoke about vaccines that prevent one from getting that type of cancer.
“There is a vaccine that is available for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that has been administered to primary school girls in Zimbabwe, if people have daughters that have not been vaccinated, please find out where they can get the jab. It helps combat cervical cancer,” she said.
Ms Sibanda, however, gave an insight as to why some women do not go for screening.
“I realised that it is not only with cancer screening, look at antenatal clinics, but you also find that some women get to a stage of delivering a baby without registering to deliver at a health institution. There is just a problem in society where some people do not visit health institutions when there is still time,” she said.
She encouraged women to make it a habit of addressing any changes that happen to their reproductive system.
“If you suspect there is something wrong in your system or body, visit a health care centre and get the correct picture and start treatment as soon as possible. Bus stop diagnosis does not work, visit a doctor. I am still on treatment for cervical cancer and I am doing well, this is my second year and I am hoping to be discharged this year. Women must adhere to treatment and visit a health centre and follow check-up dates that will be set so that it is all effective,” she said.
Ms Sibanda has also done some advocacy work around cervical cancer as she moves around and shares information also about her journey as a survivor. She said this has made other people realise that the disease is real as she tells them what happened to her.
She further advised women to desist from listening to myths about cancer being a curse and also added that inserting herbs into their reproductive organs could lead to the development of cancer. Cervical cancer is the number one cancer killing women of various ages in Zimbabwe.
#CervicalCancerAwarenesMonth — @NyembeziMu
