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Cancer survivors yesterday called for recognition of the role they play in creating awareness and offering hope to patients.

Speaking during the inaugural National Cancer Summit in Nairobi, they vlaimed to have been marginalised in cancer sensitisation initiatives and policy-making. 

“Survivors have gone through lived experiences and are, therefore, more aware of the conditions and challenges that will face positively diagnosed patients. Yet we are not involved in sensitization efforts and in policy-making,” said Prisca Githuka, chairlady Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya.

Githuka, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, says that survivors offer the best treatment navigation guidance to patients on top of promoting acceptance of a diagnosis. 

“Because I have gone through treatment, when a patient comes to me, I can refer them to the right facility and doctor. The patients are more likely to trust us (survivors) and adhere to treatment when they hear our success stories,” added Githuka.

Challenges

Githuka says despite survivors triumphing over the disease they are still confounded with challenges that are often overlooked or trivialised.

“Even after surviving some cancer patients are still put under medication such as those who are recovering from breast cancer. The patients are put on a certain type of hormonal drug for10 years yet the drug is not readily available in hospitals,” said Githuka.

She observes family stigma post-recovery remains a challenge as family members fail to offer social support citing perceived total recovery from the disease.

“When you go for assessment in some healthcare facilities they dismiss you and tell you that you do not qualify because your disability is not seen. This is unfortunate because surviving cancer will sometimes render you disabled,” she said.

Lucy Njeri, a breast cancer advocate and survivor says that the time is ripe for the government to compensate survivors who are involved in cancer advocacy.