CANCER WARRIOR: My faith has guided me through my treatment

Florence Akoth, 42, has been cancer free for two years. She has gone through a difficult time, being the breadwinner of her family, even while on bad cancer treatment. Florence, a hairdresser, wife and mother of two, believes that her faith in God has healed her. She shares her story with Nation.co.ke.

"In mid-October 2015, I noticed a mbad in my left bad while I was taking a shower. It was painless. Three days later, a boil developed on the same bad and I began to feel pain.

I thought the mbad and boiling would go away, but they did not do it.

I decided to see a doctor a week and a half later at Kenyatta National Hospital. An ultrasound showed that I had a thickness of two centimeters. A biopsy was performed immediately and the doctor stated that it was a non-malignant (non-cancerous) cancer that would disappear with time.

But the mbad was getting bigger every day, so I went back to the hospital a month later. Another ultrasound showed that the growth was now eight centimeters. A second biopsy was performed and this time it was determined that he was cancerous and at stage 3B. It was December 22, 2015. I will never forget this date because it was the day my life changed.

I was alone when I went to get the results of the biopsy, but I was neither shocked nor scared after receiving them. Not a bit. Because I was born again, I knew that God wanted to boast in me.

My oncologist suggested starting chemotherapy treatment instead of a mastectomy (surgical removal of bad tissue) because of the rapid growth of the mbad. Chemotherapy would help reduce its size before the operation.

I had my first cycle of chemotherapy in January 2016 and went through eight cycles until July of the same year.

The chemotherapy is horrible. I developed nervous problems and I suffered a lot of days. My nails became black and I lost my hair. However, I adopted my hair loss with a lot of positivity and I have never wore a wig during the first few months of chemotherapy. I've also lost appetite, but I'm lucky not to have lost weight during treatment.

The mastectomy was performed at the end of the same month. Just like hair loss, I kissed her too and I would wear my clothes without the mastectomy bras without any worries.

I then had to undergo 25 radiation sessions to make sure that all the cancer cells were completely destroyed. I would go every day of the week for five weeks. Fortunately, radiation therapy was not as difficult as chemotherapy.

About a month and a half later, in January 2017, I underwent tests that showed that the cancer cells had completely disappeared. I have not had cancer since.

My husband has been unemployed for six years. I have been supporting family for a long time, even when I was in treatment.

Finance was a challenge for us, but many of our friends and family supported us with contributions. They also encouraged me and I am grateful to them.

I am also grateful to my bishop, John Ndegwa, and his wife. They supported me emotionally and financially during this time.

I believe that I am alive because of my faith in God. And it is because of my experience that I go to Kenyatta Hospital, Nairobi Hospice and Texas Cancer Center to encourage other patients and badure them that God is healing.

I would like to say to those who are undergoing treatment or who have just been diagnosed that cancer is not a death sentence. Always confess positivity, as bad as it can be. It goes a long way. Also hold your faith to the Lord. "

The Cancer Warrior Stories series tells the stories of cancer survivors. To share your cancer story, send an email [email protected]