Cancer in Kenya: Giving a real chance of recovery

"When I first felt pain and swelling in my right breast in June 2024, I thought it was something small. I went to several clinics, but all I got were painkillers and uncertain explanations.

Some said it was hormonal. Others said it was because of breastfeeding. One even said it was “boils in the bones.” None of them did a scan. None of them really looked deeper.

As the pain grew, I went to Bondo District Hospital three months later. This time, after an ultrasound, the doctor told me there were “masses.” I remember that word, masses. I asked if it was okay to keep breastfeeding, and even though the doctor said it was fine, something inside me said otherwise. My maternal instincts told me to stop. My baby was just a year old.

That night, I told my husband. He had already noticed the swelling. We were both scared but tried to be strong for each other. When the doctor suggested a mammogram or biopsy, I googled what those tests were for. That’s when I came across the word “cancer.”

I froze. I wasn’t ready for that word to be part of my story.

I didn’t go for the biopsy. I told myself, “I don’t want the unknown to be known.” Both my husband and I had seen people close to us die from cancer. I wasn’t ready to face it.

By November 2024, the pain became unbearable. I went to Tenwek Hospital. They asked for my old reports, did another ultrasound, and a CT scan. When the doctor called me in, she didn’t sugarcoat it. “Hii report yako inasema uko na cancer. Kama si stage 4 ni stage 3.” She said it plainly. I sat there, silent. I didn’t cry. I didn’t even move. I just felt my world slow down.

I’ve faced hardship before, but this was different. This time, my fear wasn’t just about me. It was about my two little girls, five and two years old. I kept wondering, “If I die, who will take care of them?”

That day, I was with my sister at the doctor’s office. When she heard the news, she just ran out crying. I understood. It was too heavy. At the waiting area, a man approached me, a survivor. He told me his story, encouraged me, and reminded me that healing was possible. We still talk to this day.

When the treatment plan came out, I almost broke.
8 cycles of chemotherapy.
18 cycles of Herceptin.
Surgery.
20 sessions of radiotherapy.

My husband was still recovering from a fracture and couldn’t work. We had no savings left. But somehow, we just decided to keep moving. SHA helped cover chemotherapy, but when I got to Tenwek in January, they didn’t have the drugs. I waited two weeks, still nothing. I was told to go home and wait for a call.

That day, going back home to Kisumu, I thought maybe this would be the end for me. But God had other plans. A friend told me about a cancer center in Kisumu. I went to inquire, and they said I could start treatment that same day. That’s how I began chemotherapy.

When my hair started falling off, I tried to be strong. My little girl once said, “Eiii mom, usikuje shule yetu.” She didn’t mean to hurt me she was just a child but my heart sank. I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself. I would ask my husband all the time, “How do I look?”

On 15th July 2025, I had a mastectomy. Losing my left breast was a constant reminder of everything I’d gone through. But I kept telling myself I’m alive.

When I came to Nairobi for radiotherapy, the bills hit hard. SHA covered Kshs 72,000, but we had to top up Kshs 208,000. We begged, borrowed, and fundraised from friends. Somehow, God provided.

That’s when I found Faraja. I had heard about them before, but visiting their office was different. I was received with warmth, kindness, and hope. They supported my radiotherapy and helped me navigate where to get Herceptin at an affordable rate. But more than that, they made me feel seen, not just as a patient, but as a person.

Today, I’m still on treatment. The doctors say I’ll be on it for the next five years. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I’ve chosen to stay hopeful.

My faith has carried me through everything. I always think of Job, how he stayed faithful through pain. I pray that my story gives someone else hope. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that acceptance and faith can turn even the darkest moments into testimonies."

Faraja Cancer Support Trust also provides financial assistance to cancer patients through the Faraja Medical Support Fund. This fund supports patients like Milcah with the cost of their treatment, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of receiving the necessary care. The fund is fully dependent on the generosity of donors, like you, whose support makes a significant impact on the lives of cancer patients.

Thank you for being a part of this life-changing work.

Agnes was taking a bath one day when she felt a tiny lump on her right breast. She brushed it off. But three to four months later, it had grown—and so had her fear.

What follows is Agnes’s story, in her own words

“I didn’t tell anyone. I was scared that my children would abandon me.
I already live with diabetes, hypertension, a heart condition, and arthritis that came with the diabetes. During my heart surgery, my kidneys also began to fail. It was one thing after another. I felt my family had already shouldered so much. I didn’t want to burden them even more. And besides, all I ever heard was: cancer is a death sentence.

“But allow me to take you back to two years ago, I had taken in a young man who had been suspended from medical school for drug abuse and wasn’t welcome at home. This became my saving grace. Over time, he began looking after me, helping me manage my blood pressure, my diabetes, even my food. One day, I confided in him about the lump. When he felt it, he urged me to go to the hospital immediately.

“That Monday, he accompanied me to Mbagathi County Referral Hospital for my clinic. We did a mammogram and biopsy, and later I was referred to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH). I eventually chose to continue my treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where my niece works. Today, that same young man is now a doctor in Homabay — and he still calls to check on me. Sometimes I think maybe we helped save each other.

“Because of my pre-existing conditions, my doctors had to hold a multidisciplinary meeting to come up with a treatment plan. Surgery was ruled out—the cancer had already advanced to stage 4. Radiation wasn’t an option either due to my heart condition. I was started on 18 cycles of Herceptin.

“I remember vividly when the PET scan results came back around June/July. The cancer had spread to my liver and uterus. I didn’t know how to break the news to my four sons. My niece helped me. I was terrified. I had survived diabetes, heart surgery… but this time I told myself: cancer has finally caught me. However, I was wrong. My family didn’t abandon me. They stood with me and have supported every step of my journey.

“Still, even with their support, the treatment was expensive, and the government cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA) couldn’t cater for everything. That’s when a hospital social worker referred me to Faraja. I hadn’t heard of them before. I walked into Faraja’s offices, with all my medical reports, nervous and uncertain. I was received so warmly. That moment felt like someone had finally seen me, not just as a patient, but as a person.

“From that first visit, I realised Faraja offers more than just financial support, opening my eyes to a different kind of care: gentle, holistic, and deeply human. I was introduced to their complementary therapies like counselling, reflexology, and support groups. The attention and care I’ve received has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve felt held, seen, and strengthened. I’m still undergoing treatment—I have eight sessions left.

“Now, I share my story everywhere I go. I encourage people in my village. I visit homes. I’ve become an ambassador. I tell them: cancer won’t kill me.
At first, I thought God was punishing me. But now I believe—maybe He’s using me as a vessel. Maybe I’m here to bring hope to others who are going through the same thing.”

Faraja offers a wide range of free services for anyone affected by cancer. These include free complementary services such as counselling, nutritional support, reflexology, lymphatic drainage, art and music therapy, support groups, and physical therapies like Zumba—all of which are beneficial to anyone affected by cancer, such as Agnes.
In addition to these therapies, Faraja also has a Medical Support Fund that supports needy patients through cancer treatment. The fund is fully dependent on the generous donations from well-wishers like you.

Cancer is reported as the third leading cause of death in Kenya, Unfortunately, late-stage diagnosis contributes significantly to the high cancer-related death toll. During the National Cancer Summit 2023, a report was presented which highlighted the distressing fact that approximately 70% of cancer cases are identified in advanced stages when curative treatment becomes nearly impossible. In such cases, the need for supportive care becomes critical. Faraja continues to advocate for its role in holistic care and improving quality of life.

Faraja also takes a proactive approach to address these statistics by raising awareness that early detection saves lives. Through education, outreach, and community engagement, we aim to shift the narrative and encourage timely screening and treatment.

As our valued supporters, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for bringing much-needed hope, help, and life to families like Agnes, as well as countless others in need. Your donations make a significant difference in their lives.

Links:

• Faraja Website