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Breast cancer survivor brings change in Kisii

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Published on Monday, 12 December 2011 09:04

When Gladys Burk and her husband Stefan Burk started a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) to fight breast cancer in Kenya sometime in 2008, little did she know that she would suffer from the same disease.

Last year, Gladys, a Kenyan was diagnosed with breast cancer, which came as a shocker to both her and relatives.

"I was so traumatised when I was diagnosed with breast cancer but doctors counselled me and prepared me for the times ahead," Gladys said during an interview at the Kisii Level Five Hospital (KL5H) during a visit to the facility.

But unlike other breast cancer patients in Kenya, she was lucky to be in Germany where breast cancer treatment was available.

Luckily, Gladys tumour was detected in the early stages when it was 1.5 centimetres. She underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy for six months and thereafter, 33 radiation sessions.

"Now I have finished the therapy and I’m okay," Gladys says with a broad smile.

Buoyed by her own experience, Gladys and her husband co-founded an non-governmental organisation called Penda Kenya (Love Kenya) and brought on board four breast cancer specialists from German, Italy and US.

The medics comprised of two pharmacists, one mammography specialist and other practitioners.

Last month, they set on a special mission-to bring expertise in therapy of the ailment at KL5H.

"We are here to partner with KL5H in the treatment of breast cancer in areas of awareness, capacity building and facilities upgrade," explained Gladys.

Team leader, Dr Volker Heyl told My Health that they wanted to see how best they could operationalise breast cancer treatment particularly in rural Kenya.

Heyl is credited with having started the first mammography screening in Germany.

For five days, the medics pitched tent at the KL5H as they identified areas, which the doctors and nurses needed to be educated in the fight against cancer.

Apart from KL5H, they also visited Gucha District Hospital, to have a feel of lower level of treatment facilities.

Asked why they chose Kisii, Burk responded; "We are partnering with KL5H because we want to bring the services to remote areas away from the city where intervention is readily available. We are mostly focusing on non-entered regions."

Penda Kenya, Burk said will return to the country next year for implementation of the project.

Areas identified for support include; early detection, awareness creation among women, support for poor women who can’t afford treatment and surgery, ultra sound system installation and mammography machine provision.

Other supportive measures to be carried out in partnership with the hospital will be providing medical supplies for cancer patients, boosting level of hygiene in the wards and surgery rooms and breast implants.

Another team member, Dr Heidegger Herbert from Italy observed that deaths from breast cancer were needless as there were numerous possibilities to cure the disease.

"We only need to have good diagnosis, proper planning, appropriate surgeries and after-care to contain breast cancer just like we have managed it in Europe," offered Herbert.

He encouraged women who feel tumour in their breasts to seek medical check ups early saying it was easy to treat it than when it is detected late.

According to the medics, knowledge and skills transfer on how to do modern diagnosis, operations on patients and how to organise treatment in the most optimal way will go a long way in alleviating suffering of women in rural Kenya.

Hailing the Penda Kenya initiative, KL5H Medical Superintendent, Dr Geoffrey Otomu said once implemented, it will be a milestone in handling breast cancer treatment at the facility.

"This is a commendable initiative and we are encouraging other partners to also help in other areas to improve health care of the people," Dr Otomu said.

Watching from a distance, Gladys wears a broad grin as she watches a dream she has for many months nursed come to life.