Oda Nsabimana is a co-founder of the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA) and a passionate advocate for breast cancer awareness. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 while working in the brick-making business. One evening after work, she returned home tired to find her children watching TV, where a doctor was advising women over 40 to perform regular breast self-exams, as lumps could indicate cancer. Although Nsabimana was only 39, she had already noticed something unusual in her breast that hadn’t caused her any pain. I touched it again and felt something. The next morning, I went to the hospital, where the doctor assured me it was not cancer but explained the visible signs of breast cancer, she recalled. To confirm the diagnosis, they recommended a mammogram. At the time, only one doctor in the area had the machine, and the cost of Rwf30,000 for a single breast was a significant amount in 2003. I thought I could use that money to make more profit in my business instead, especially since my breast was not hurting. So, I decided not to go back to the hospital, she said. Eventually, Nsabimana returned to the hospital for the mammogram, which revealed a tumour in one of her breasts. The doctor recommended the removal of the tumour for lab testing. “They sent it to Butare, now Huye District, which had the only lab in the country at the time. I waited five months without any results. I began asking questions, but they wouldn’t give me an answer. Frustrated, I reached out to a friend at the university in Butare for help. She discovered they hadn’t even tested it yet. When they finally did, it confirmed I had breast cancer,” she said. After receiving the results, Nsabimana did not check them right away. When she finally returned to the hospital, they told her the news and suggested she seek treatment outside Rwanda. I was in shock. I went to church, cried, then went home and told my family. It wasn’t easy to share. I lost hope and started waiting for death, with only my little sister and a few women from church by my side, she shared. Fortunately, one of the women she attended church with had connections in the Ministry of Health. She informed them of Nsabimana’s illness, and the government covered her treatment costs. The government paid $6,000 for her treatment in Nairobi. Terrified and thinking she would die, especially since it was her first time on a plane, Nsabimana recalled, “I even thought, ‘Why can’t this plane just crash and end it?’ But then I realised, there are other passengers on this plane who aren’t sick, so why wish that?” With limited English and little Kiswahili, she arrived at the hospital in Nairobi, where she spent three days without eating, awaiting the worst. “On the third day, I even thought I had died, but then I stood up, read the Bible, and prayed,” she said. After her treatment in Nairobi, she returned to Rwanda for follow-up care. “I was put on treatment, and since they had removed one breast, I went through chemotherapy, which made my hair fall out. I also underwent radiotherapy, targeting the chest area. “I would cry often, and the psychologists would tell me not to be afraid,” she added. “One of the hardest challenges of breast cancer is maintaining hope. The medicine makes you so weak, and without support and comfort, it can lead to more health problems. For me, I was getting treatment, but I also held onto hope,” Nsabimana explained. She emphasised that cancer does not fully go away, requiring regular check-ups. “If you stay cancer-free for ten years, it’s considered healed. But since I still have another breast, the cancer could return there,” she said. “In my journey, I’m a cancer survivor, but I always go for my check-ups.” A call for early screening Nsabimana urges people to seek early screenings and not wait until they feel unwell. She particularly advises women to consider annual screenings. People should also support those who are sick. Without support, patients can easily fall into depression, which can even lead to early death. It's crucial to walk with them on their journey and offer encouragement, she added. Founding BCIEA After her battle with breast cancer, Nsabimana and Philippa Kibugu-Decuir, both breast cancer survivors, launched the BCIEA initiative in 2007 to raise awareness about the disease. She stresses that their focus is on educating people about how breast cancer develops and recognizing its signs. BCIEA reaches out to the public through schools, markets, and media campaigns to disseminate knowledge about breast cancer. “We’ve helped over 100 people, but unfortunately, more than 20 have died from breast cancer this year, she noted. Nsabimana explained that, prior to COVID-19, they had plans to expand BCIEA nationwide, but that was not possible. Instead, they now have volunteers, known as “Imbonizacu,” who are healthy women supporting the initiative in districts like Kirehe, Kicukiro, Huye, and Musanze. Each district has over 20-25 healthy members, while individuals with breast cancer visit daily. We provide prosthetics for those who have undergone mastectomies and offer emotional support to comfort them, she revealed. For patients travelling from far away, like those coming from Huye to Kicukiro for treatment, we assist with transportation. We also offer temporary accommodation to those without a place to stay while awaiting hospital appointments, she added.
