Cancer victims become weak during treatment, but theirs is not a battle for the powerless. It is after they have achieved victory and are called cancer survivors that we realize how much strength one person can muster. However, the battle with cancer gives one a long, expensive road to recovery. It does not end at cutting it out like you cut out the bad part of an overripe plantain and eat the rest.
Charity Ikem would be the first to tell anyone that the cancer battle is not for the weak. Even as a five-foot (averagely) lady in her mid-thirties, she has proven to be far tougher on the inside than she appears outside.
Although she had undergone a radical mastectomy and is still undergoing chemotherapy, her eyes mirrored the courage of one who was sure she had won the battle, as she confessed.
Charity discovered she had cancer early last year.
“I got the shock of my life one morning when I woke up and found a lump in my right breast. Being an informed person, I do breast examination for myself from time to time, but you know we never expect the worst, even when we do those things. I spoke with a colleague from work and he took me to an examination centre at the Redemption Camp. It was there I was first told I had a lump in my breast and I had to have additional tests to confirm if it was benign or cancerous. That was how my life as a frequent hospital guest began.
“There is this place that Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has set up called Healing Stripes. My colleague drove me there and I only paid a registration token. After some screening, it was confirmed that I had a lump in my breast and I was told that I needed a breast scan. That was the first time I would hear of a breast scan. So I was rescheduled for that after a week and came back for my scan. They checked my armpits for what they called lymph nodes. I was called after the test and told that I had the lymph nodes in my armpit and I needed needle testing. So they inserted a needle and got a sample of the lumps in my breasts. It was just me at this point. I did not want to tell my parents, but I was very scared. I was still hopeful that it would not be cancer. Then I came back for my test results a few days later and it was confirmed to be cancer. So I started crying. The doctor asked for who to call and I chose my elder sister. When she was told, she also started crying over the phone.”
Like many Nigerians, even after multiple tests confirmed Charity had breast cancer, she had faith that it would go away, a miracle would happen and she would testify in church. It did not.
“My sister asked for the next step for me and the doctor directed me to a doctor at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). However, when I asked her how it would go, she said the bottom line was that they had to cut off my breast. At this point, I said nothing. I simply cried the more. Then she wrote me a letter to meet a doctor at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).”
Fear was an unwelcome but persistent guest at this point for a cancer patient. The period where she had to tell people that she was sick, although she did not look it. She had to admit and accept the necessary treatment.
“When I got home, I was sad, crying and I had to tell the aunt I was staying with, but I instructed them not to tell my parents because they are very old and I knew what this would do to them. So, I felt like I was alone in the world. I was always crying, but I could not cry in front of my siblings, because I did not want to make them sad. So, I would stay up at night and weep. I felt like I was the only one going through the situation,” she told The Nation.
Then, she took bold steps. Stalling, she opted to have the lump removed, rather than have a complete mastectomy.
“I went to LASUTH and I met the doctor. After seeing the results from my previous tests, he requested we did another test, this time, with a very big needle. So we fixed a date. However, at the time to insert the needle, the doctor stopped, saying the lump was too small for the big needle. He went to get counsel from two other doctors and they said the same thing. Eventually, the specialist said he was going to cut off the breast. I blatantly refused. I said ‘I cannot cut off my breast. I need them.’ So I advocated for the lump to be removed and tested instead and they agreed. I went alone for that initial surgery, because I did not want to disturb anyone,” she continued.
At this point, Charity digressed: “The Nigerian government has a lot to do to save cancer victims, because whatever they are doing right now, if anything at all, it is certainly not helping. No one is feeling it. You can imagine, when I had the lump removed at the general hospital, they told me to go and look for a private testing laboratory, because being a government hospital, if I had left it with them, it would take very long and I did not have that luxury of time. The doctor actually told me that. So I was given the sample to take to a laboratory by myself and I paid about N10, 000 for the test. I got my result in a week and it confirmed my worst fears. The doctor confirmed that it really was cancer and advised me to remove my breast. He preached and talked but all I did was weep.”
It was time to apply more faith. The battle was not for the weak. Charity backed out of her scheduled mastectomy.
“When I got home, I told my pastor and everyone started praying for me. So eventually, I had to tell someone to tell my mother. Then I started getting encouraged. I went home to tell my parents everything and everyone started crying. I had to be the one consoling them. My mum suggested we go to church and we did. I was moved to pour out my heart to God. I was so down, crying, dejected, I asked God to prove Himself. Then I tested my faith. I called my doctor and told him I was not coming for the surgery anymore, that I wanted to give God time for a miracle and he said it was my choice. So I cancelled my surgery and went into prayers. I waited for about six more months. As at November last year, I found out my right breast was getting much bigger than the other one. Most times, I had to put something on the other one to make them look even. But I did not mind, I started focusing on my work. I was actually baking cake. Then I went for Holy Ghost Conference at the Redemption Camp. As at this point, I could not see a future for myself. I had given up on myself so I was always crying that God was going to allow me to die like that. Then the GO gave a word, and said ‘there is a lady here, God is not going to allow you to die.’ So I claimed that. I got encouraged and went for a scan again.”
Charity’s cancer had grown worse and was aggressive.
She said: “The doctor said the lumps that were removed had come back and this time, they were about three, not just one. It was at this point that I opted to take out the breast. So I went back to LASUTH and met the doctor, who asked if I was ready. Although the university was on strike, which is another consequence of government’s negligence, the doctor said I could not wait any longer. So we had to make appointment at a private hospital for the surgery. Then they gave a bill of N250, 000 but I had no money.”
Charity did receive her miracle but it required her to still do the work.
She said: “From nowhere, a friend of mine who just got back from the UK, Kemi came up and said if she could pay the money for my surgery. She said I should ask the doctor if he could do the surgery immediately. It was a great surprise for me. She said she had been led by God to give me the money she wanted to use to get an apartment. The doctor said if I paid the money, he would give me a week to prepare for the surgery and he would do it. I told the doctor to allow my family and I to enjoy Christmas and on the 27th, I went for the surgery. I was happy throughout and it was successful. The doctor was surprised at how happy I was before the surgery and after. I lightened up everyone’s mood. Even after the surgery, when I was told to eat something light, I ate pounded yam that my mum brought for me.”
Charity chose the hard part and saved her life. Although she is still undergoing treatment, she had words of encouragement for everyone.
“I have finished my chemo but because of money, I am just doing my radiotherapy now. I am still undergoing treatment. But when my tests came out after the surgery, I was told that the cancer had not spread anywhere else. It was only my breast, in fact only the nipple, so I am glad and I believe I am cancer free.
“This is my message to women: when you hear it, it is shocking. But you should not take it as the end of the world. A tremendous amount of the emotional, psychological help I had came from COPE. They were a blessing to me. When I came here, I was crying, and I was badly dressed. I was dressing to suit my illness. But she made me understand that I did not need to do that. People did not have to look at me and know that I was ill. I did not have to be sad. Be happy, people are going through the same situation and worse. So I believed I could be better. I thought that I was the only person in the world suffering from cancer. But here I see all of us as fighters. Mrs Ebun made me see that I could beat this. Since I took off the breast, I have never shed tears and miracles have been coming my way. Help comes from everywhere. If you go around people, they would help you. There is still a second breast that you can breastfeed your baby with. There is always a way, especially if you fight it on time.”
Meanwhile, another survivor, 37 year old Mrs Akpan, who has been cancer-free for two years, joined the call for a comprehensive cancer centre and advised members of the society not to stigmatise cancer patients.
“Our hospitals are trying but they could do better. I had to opt for a private hospital for my treatment because of the experience my colleagues have told me they had while having their treatments in public hospitals. I wish that someday our government would be able to set up a comprehensive cancer centre here in Lagos, where you would have all the specialists in one place to attend to people. If we get it right in Nigeria, women really do not have to die. Honestly, if you go abroad, in America specifically and you say ‘I have breast cancer.’ It is as if you are telling them you have malaria, because they would just relate with you naturally and tell you, ‘you will be okay, just go to these places and get your treatment and everything would be okay.’ But in Nigeria, we still see it as a stigma. We see it as ‘God forbid. Let it not happen to me thing.’ But the truth is it can happen to anybody. Our men are dying from prostate cancer every day. So I would say as much as you can, regulate your lifestyle and your diet. Don’t just go eating gala and carbonated drinks on the street. Take healthy vegetable, fruits and good meals. And never take your medical checkups for granted, because once a year is not too much,” she said.
Mrs Akpan, who also had a radical mastectomy, lauded the activities and efforts of COPE and other NGOs.
She said: “Every month, they come up with one activity or the other that are great for us. They bring psychotherapists, oncologists, dieticians, surgeons, exercise routines and different coping strategies that help people know that they really can pull through this. Cancer treatment is very expensive, so this organization goes all out to look for people who are willing to sponsor the treatments for those who cannot afford it. I think that is very humanitarian. I am one of the beneficiaries. There was a time I could not cope with the expenses anymore and they stepped in. They helped me to get a sponsor. I don’t know who the sponsor is till today, but I know God will bless them. I pray for COPE every single day. The diagnosis and treatment period was about six to seven months so everything else in my life stood still all through this period. I just concentrated on getting better. I was determined not to die, after all, I am still young. Now, it is over and I had no complications.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Ebunola Anozie, President of Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (COPE), a nongovernmental organisation that caters to patients of breast and cervical cancer, has called for government’s intervention and reawakening of the society to the plight of people living with cancer.
Speaking at a special edition of her organisation’s monthly support group meeting, just before COPE’s 20th anniversary next month, she said cancer was not a death sentence, but government and society’s negligence had led to the death of many.
“The support group actually, is for breast cancer survivors to meet, exchange ideas, support each other and get a lot of information. Here, we show them love and most of them are on stipends to help with their medication. Today, a few of them would go home with some money to help them with their treatment. We would have lunch as well, because it is a healthy meal. Today, they have watched a powerful movie titled ‘Miracle on the cards’. This is to inspire them, to give them the will to live, that cancer is not the end of the world and they could fight it. We are praying that the government would help. There are a lot of things that the patients are working with to help them and it seems like government is doing nothing at all. Many people die because of lack of funds,” Anozie said.
Lamenting the poor and over expensive state of Nigeria’s cancer treatment and diagnosis units in hospitals, she said: “We need a comprehensive cancer centre here in Lagos State, so that people do not have to fly abroad anymore. Not everyone can afford to travel out. It seems as if government has left all the work to the NGOs and society is just not encouraging. When we ask for help and donations, they ignore us. They just pretend like it does not concern them. Well let me let them know that it is everybody’s business.
“We do not treat here, but we support and give information. We go with our medical team and equipments to screen people also. Cancer patients locate us themselves, while some are referred here by doctors. We provide them with information that doctors do not have time to provide them with. We also have a shop where we provide the cancer bra, after you have a mastectomy done. We provide funds for their medications and treatments, as well as create awareness on breast cancer screening. But that is the little we can do. A comprehensive cancer unit would have all the cancer specialists in one place and patients would reach them easily. If it is government-funded, treatment would become much cheaper. There are numerous benefits to it.”
Members of COPE were also treated to a special session of lighting scented candles that had their names written on it to symbolize life.
“Today, we just want them to have a lovely time and forget about cancer, while still letting them see that they can believe and win the battle. They are all survivors. We have scented candles from COPE to them with love. It is just for them to know they are loved and that their light would continue to shine. They would be called one after the other to light the candles themselves. Because it is scented, the aroma around would be inviting and pleasing. So this is more like a symbol. When someone is dead, they just blow out the candle that the person is gone. But here, they would light their candles as a symbol of life and everything here is free.”
She got emotional when a member whose case had progressed radically walked in to join the celebration and went to assist her.
“We do not joke with them at all. They are our priority. People must not stigmatise cancer patients,” Anozie said.
COPE has taken care of many cancer patients since its inception in 1995, but currently has a record of 73 survivors and 35 active cancer patients.
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