Millicent Kagonga: Cervical Cancer Led to My Early Menopause

By Seliphar Machoni 

"I was born a normal girl and went through the typical stages of childhood. However, at the age of 20, my life took an unexpected twist after giving birth to my third child. Yes, it's hard to believe, but I had three kids by the time I was 20. You're probably wondering how I got married at such a young age. Well, the truth is, I actually had my first child when I was only 14.

At the age of 20, I started experiencing abnormal discharge from my genital area. This issue persisted and eventually led to the end of my marriage. 

The year 2010 stands out vividly in my memory, as it was the most challenging year of my life. Not only did I lose my marriage because of this vaginal discharge, but I also lost my second child, who was only four years old. My third born was only three months old. It was an incredibly stressful time for me.

The abnormal discharge continued to plague me, and I sought help from friends without revealing that I was the one facing this problem. I would ask them, 'I have a friend who is experiencing abnormal discharge from her genital area, and it has caused the end of her marriage. What do you think she should do?' Some of the women advised me to avoid eating cabbage and Irish potatoes, seek prayers, or try traditional remedies.

I followed their suggestions and stopped consuming cabbage and Irish potatoes, but the discharge did not stop. In fact, it became even more pungent, and managing it became extremely difficult.

Opening up about my struggles was challenging, especially given that discussing matters related to genital health in public is frowned upon where I come from. Consequently, I stayed silent for nearly five years.

It wasn't until 2015, while watching television, that I heard about the symptoms and signs of cervical cancer. To my surprise, the symptoms they described were exactly what I had been experiencing: back pain, joint pain, weight loss, and loss of appetite.

At that moment, when I was 25 years old, I made the decision to undergo cervical cancer screening. However, the first healthcare facility I visited objected, claiming that I was too young for the screening. Despite my insistence, they referred to the World Health Organization's guidelines, which recommended cervical cancer screening for women aged 35 and above in 2015. 

Undeterred, I was given antibiotics to use for a week. Unfortunately, after a week of taking the antibiotics, there was no improvement. I then went to the nearest pharmacy to purchase the same antibiotics and continued taking them for another week, but the situation only worsened. I began experiencing heavy bleeding with clotting.

After three weeks of struggling, I decided to seek help from another facility. This time, I insisted on getting a cervical cancer screening, and they agreed to perform one. I was instructed to lie down on the bed, and as the doctor tried to insert the speculum, there was bleeding. After a thorough examination, the doctor uttered the words that still haunt me to this day: "Sorry Millicent, you have cervical cancer."

That wasn't the only devastating news. In the screening room, I was shown a chart displaying the different stages of cancer: stages one, two, three, and four. The doctor pointed to stage four and informed me that my cancer had reached an advanced stage.

The information overwhelmed me to the point where I couldn't process it. I struggled to comprehend it all. The shock was so intense that I temporarily lost consciousness for a few hours. When I eventually woke up, I was still in the hospital bed. It felt like a dream, but unfortunately, it was my harsh reality. I cried until I could cry no more. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, and I envisioned a bleak future for my children. In my mind's eye, I saw a grave adorned with flowers, with a cross bearing my name, and my children kneeling beside it, consumed by grief and despair.

I questioned how this could have happened. I had always believed that cervical cancer only affected the wealthy, but here I was, a woman of limited means, facing the same fate.

Leaving the hospital, I felt like I had only one option left: death. That was all my mind could conceive. At that moment, I was residing in Korogosho, but I decided to return home to Vihiga County to make preparations for my own burial. In my mind, I was already dead. I even contemplated taking the lives of my children and ending my own, unable to bear the thought of leaving them behind to struggle and suffer.

Fortunately, fate intervened in the form of an old friend whom I encountered in the village. I decided to confide in her, and she directed me to a gynaecologist in Vihiga who provided me with unwavering support and resources. He offered counseling, encouragement, and a renewed sense of hope. He also arranged for me to undergo biopsy tests before referring me back to Nairobi for treatment.

In 2017, I began my treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. However, another obstacle arose – there was a shortage of blood needed for the treatment to commence. 

A total of 17 units of blood had to be infused into my system.Treatment brought its own set of challenges and side effects, including one that devastated me at the young age of 28: early menopause, which meant I could no longer have children. 

Alongside this, the financial burden became increasingly difficult to bear, to the point where there were times I had absolutely no money for transportation back to where I was staying after treatment, resulting in me resorting to sleeping in the corridors of Kenyatta Hospital.

During my treatment process, I underwent six cycles of chemotherapy, 25 cycles of radiotherapy, and three cycles of brachytherapy.

Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, I could only afford to do three cycles of chemotherapy, 25 cycles of radiotherapy, and three cycles of brachytherapy. As a consequence, this treatment process lasted for almost a year because I lacked the necessary funds.

I want to commend any woman with cervical cancer who has undergone brachytherapy in particular. It was incredibly painful, requiring immense strength.

Millicent Kagonga 

Overall, my treatment process was both hectic and painful, but I can confidently say that I am currently in a better position. I now visit the clinic every three months.

Throughout my journey, my family members and neighbors wanted nothing to do with me. Some thought I was going to die, others believed it was witchcraft. Some even discriminated against me, fearing that I would spread the disease to them. They wouldn't even share a bathroom with me out of fear of infection. Explaining my situation to them was incredibly difficult, and dealing with the stigma was a living hell.

But I am grateful that my children stayed by my side, offering encouragement and giving me a reason to remain positive. When I had to sleep in the hospital corridors, other patients came through for me, providing food and even money for me and my children.

Because of the stigma I faced, I made a promise to myself that if given another opportunity, I would fight against the stigma in the community. 

That led me to start an organization called Symbol of Hope Warriors immediately after completing my treatment. In 2019, I officially registered the organization.

At first, there were only four cancer survivors involved, but now we have over 400 survivors united with the goal of combating stigma in the community. Our organization also provides free accommodation for cancer patients who come to Nairobi for treatment and have nowhere to stay. We ensure that they are comfortable during their stay.

My ultimate goal is to establish a cancer center for children whose parents have passed away from cancer or whose parents are currently battling the disease. I don't want any child or woman to endure what I had to go through.

When I learned that the government was vaccinating girls aged 10 against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) , I was thrilled. I wasted no time in taking my daughter for the vaccine as soon as it was available in 2019. I wanted her to be at the forefront of receiving the vaccine. She became the first girl in Kenya to be vaccinated.

I didn't want my daughter to experience the same nightmare I did. Through my organization, I now spread the word and encourage mothers to allow their girls to be vaccinated against HPV.

I am proud that my daughter was featured as the face of the Global Health Cervical Cancer Strategy on the cover. I, as a cancer survivor, and my daughter, as an HPV vaccine champion, have been through a lot.

Millicent Kagonga and her daughter face of the Global Health Cervical Cancer Strategy 

The viruses are prevented and not treated and I have accepted that and that's why I am taking it one day at a time as I continue with the treatment."

From an expert and World Health Organization perspective

Dr. Maranga, a gynecologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, confirms that cervical cancer is preventable. The majority of cases are caused by HPV, and a safe and effective HPV vaccination can prevent cervical cancer.

Despite the availability of prevention tools, cervical cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Kenya.

"I see women dying unnecessarily, and most of it is because they come late for consultation. Over 80 percent of the women who come for diagnosis already have advanced cervical cancer," said Dr. Maranga.

Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women in Kenya, specifically among those aged 15 to 44. Approximately 9.1 percent of women in the general population are affected, and 63.1 percent of invasive cervical cancer cases can be attributed to HPVs 16 or 18, according to the 2023 Kenya Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancer report.

The report also reveals that Kenya has a population of 16.8 million women aged 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Currently, it is estimated that 5,236 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, resulting in 3,211 deaths.

"As the third leading cause of death in Kenya, cancer is a major public health concern that burdens families, communities, and health systems. Unfortunately, nine women die each day due to cervical cancer," said Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha during the 2023 UNFPA National Cancer Summit.

Globally, cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer in women, with 604,000 new cases reported in 2020. Around 90 percent of the 342,000 deaths caused by cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Being vaccinated between the ages of 9 and 14 is a highly effective method of preventing HPV infection, cervical cancer, and other HPV-related cancers," stated the WHO.

The report also emphasizes that early detection followed by timely and quality treatment can lead to a cure for cervical cancer.

Almost all cases of cervical cancer (99 percent) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), a highly prevalent virus transmitted through sexual contact.

According to Dr. Maranga, the Kenyan government should make cervical cancer services "more accessible and affordable, and ideally, they should be free for our patients."

He added that there is a need to increase vaccination rates throughout the country and make treatment more accessible and affordable.

"We must raise awareness because many women are unaware of the risks and do not know how to protect themselves. Women, families, and communities need to be educated about cervical cancer, as awareness is crucial," he explained.