John Karume had everything going for him in 2015. Married to his childhood sweetheart Grace Wamboi, The Standard journalist divided his time between work and his 13-year old son and one-year-old daughter.
At 31 years, he looked and felt as healthy as could be. However, he had noticed a lump on his chest but did not give it much thought since there was no pain.
But within months, Mr Karume noticed that the lump was slowly moving towards his armpit, prompting him to seek help from doctors. He moved from one doctor to another and from one hospital to another without any conclusive answer.
"The lump grew bigger last April and I had a minor surgery to remove it. But it recurred and this time it grew and was painful," says Karume.
Further tests, however, laid the matter to rest. And on December 4 last year, the diagnosis was placed in front of him. He didn't know how to react to the fact that he had breast cancer, something he had associated with women.
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Karume is one among rising cases of cancer in the country as the world prepares to mark World Cancer Day tomorrow. According to Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu, cancer ranks as the third highest cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases.
"It is estimated that every year we lose 28,000 people to cancer. This translates to about 76 persons per day," he said at a function at Hotel Intercontinental in Nairobi yesterday.
Dr Mailu likened it to five 14-seater matatus crashing and killing everyone on board every day, all year round.
Joseph Kibachio, the head of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, said many people suffer because of late detection. Like Karume, many are tossed from one hospital to another without doing comprehensive tests.
Karume's diagnosis changed his life and gave him fresh resolve to live and enjoy life to its fullness.
"I have stronger resolve to live, to prove that I can beat cancer. Even this one that is mostly associated with women," says Karume who says his greatest desire is to see his 13-year old son through to university and his one-year old daughter achieve tertiary education too.
Despite knowing that cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells, Karume could not initially accept how an innocent mole that had been on his chest since secondary school, had changed his life's course just when he was at the peak of his career and bringing up a young family.
According to health experts, out of every 100 cases of breast cancer diagnosed, one case is reported in men with genetics playing a great role in this prevalence.
"Initially my friends were confused about the breast cancer diagnosis and they kept asking whether it was my wife or I who had been diagnosed," says Karume who admits that he is now more comfortable talking about it.
Whereas men have breasts too, Ronald Wamalwa Wasike of the Breast Clinic at the Aga Khan University Hospital says that they are rudimentary because they do not have a lactating function.
According to Prof Wasike, men too should not ignore some of the signs of breast cancer given that two out of every five men are diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage compared to their female counterparts.
"Self-breast examination in men is the same as in women and checking for these 'silent' lumps or changes in their breasts is the first step towards effective diagnosis, treatment and management," advises Wasike.
Chances of developing breast cancer in men, Wasike notes, can be stimulated by the presence of oestrogen caused by taking hormonal medicines, being overweight or a personal history of a relative on either side of the family with breast or ovarian cancer.
For Karume, the genetic link strongly predisposed him and after conversations with family, he was informed that his maternal grandmother had breast cancer and died in 1978, his paternal aunt died in 1998 of the same and another grandmother who was diagnosed early, was treated and is aging gracefully now.
"My family was initially shocked but I have assured them that I will conquer and live to tell a tale as a victor," says Karume.
Wasike also points out that there is no difference in the treatment for both men and women and it includes surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy - a combination of options that are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
According to Wasike, men undergo mastectomys, which is the removal of all breast tissue as a way to treat or prevent breast cancer.
"Other changes to watch for, including in men, are an inverted nipple, discharge from the nipple that comes out by itself and change in shape, texture and colour of the skin," the breast specialist advises.
Karume is currently on his third chemotherapy session of out of a total of six. The sessions are carried out every three weeks and he is seeking funds to complete the remaining sessions.
"So far, I have spent Sh300,000 from friends and family to conduct tests and treatment as an out-patient, and I will need a further Sh2 million to get a clean bill of health," said Karume.
I want to live and encourage other men that breast cancer is conquerable, he concluded.
To help Karume, M-Pesa Pay Bill Business No: 891300, Account Number 5652.
