I was chased by my neighbours when I got cervical cancer

At just 35, Millicent Kagonga has already entered menopause – an early consequence of her battle with cervical cancer. But behind her gentle smile lies a story of transformation, from a woman who once suffered in silence to a fierce advocate helping others find their voice.

Kagonga's journey with pain began early. At 20, she was already a mother of three, trying to navigate marriage while dealing with persistent abnormal discharge. 

"I kept it to myself for years," she recalls. "I asked around, pretending it was a friend who needed help."

The advice she received ranged from avoiding cabbage and potatoes to limiting her water intake – folk remedies that did nothing to address the growing problem. 

It wasn't until 2015, when she spotted a television segment about cervical cancer symptoms, that Kagonga first suspected the true nature of her condition. But even then, the path to diagnosis was far from smooth.

"The first facility turned me away, saying I was too young to have cervical cancer," she says. They prescribed antibiotics instead, a treatment that proved ineffective even after multiple attempts.

Finally, at another facility where she insisted on screening, Kagonga received the devastating news: she had advanced-stage cervical cancer. The diagnosis, however, would have to wait two years before treatment could begin, marking the start of an arduous medical journey. The protocol was intense: 25 cycles of radiotherapy, three cycles of brachytherapy, and five rounds of chemotherapy.

But perhaps the most painful aspect of her battle wasn't physical – it was the social stigma that followed. In Kariobangi, her neighborhood in Nairobi, Kagonga faced rejection from her community. "I was chased from one plot to another," she recalls. This experience would later fuel her mission to combat stigma surrounding the disease.

Today, Kagonga stands as a beacon of hope and transformation. As the founder of Symbol of Hope Warriors, she leads an organisation dedicated to supporting cervical cancer survivors and promoting awareness about prevention.

 Her advocacy has expanded from local community meetings to international forums, where she shares her story to emphasize the critical importance of early screening and vaccination.

The arrival of the HPV vaccine has given her mission new momentum. Kagonga ensured her own daughter, now 15, was among the first to receive it.

"I never wanted my daughter to go through what I went through," she explains. "I never wanted her to come to me in 10 or 20 years asking why I didn't protect her when I knew about the risks."

The statistics underscore the urgency of her work. Kenya ranks among the top 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burden, recording approximately 5,845 new cases and 3,591 deaths annually. Despite global advancements in cancer treatment and prevention, cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Kenyan women, surpassing even breast cancer.

Dr Paula Bor, Head of the National Cancer Control Programme, emphasizes the scope of the challenge: "Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. However, in Kenya, it leads in cancer-related deaths, with over 5,000 new cases recorded annually."

While Kenya has implemented a comprehensive policy framework to combat the disease, progress remains slow. Only 48 per cent of eligible girls have received the HPV vaccine, far short of the 90 per cent target. Since the vaccination programme's launch in 2019, just 2.3 million girls have been vaccinated, highlighting significant challenges in reaching vulnerable populations.

Dr Gladys Mugambi, a head division of Health promotion at the ministry of health, attributes the low coverage to cultural beliefs, misinformation, and inadequate communication about the vaccine’s importance.

“Many parents assume their children don’t need the vaccine. Discussions about sexuality and preventive care remain taboo in many communities,” he explained.

In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid (ASAL) regions, cultural barriers exacerbate the challenge. Dr Mugambi highlighted the need for targeted research and community engagement in these areas. She also stressed the importance of including boys in vaccination programs.

“When boys are vaccinated, it reduces the spread of HPV, ultimately protecting everyone, including girls. This strategy could be vital for long-term cervical cancer control,” she noted. 

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, claiming an estimated 350,000 lives globally in 2022.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with approximately 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022, 94 per cent of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

High rates in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia stem from limited access to vaccination, screening, and treatment, alongside factors like HIV prevalence and poverty. Women with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer, contributing to 5 per cent of cases.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection, is the leading cause of cervical cancer. While most HPV infections are cleared by the immune system, persistent high-risk infections can lead to cancer. Six globally available HPV vaccines, which protect against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, are highly effective.

WHO recommends vaccinating girls aged 9–14 before sexual activity, with boys also included in some programs to reduce HPV prevalence.

Preventive measures include vaccination, avoiding smoking, using condoms, and voluntary male circumcision. Regular cervical cancer screening is critical; as precancerous changes often show no symptoms. 

WHO advises screening every 5–10 years from age 30, or every three years from age 25 for women with HIV. A global strategy emphasizes two lifetime screenings by ages 35 and 45, combined with vaccination, to significantly reduce cervical cancer deaths.

This January, as part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Kagonga and her organization are organizing a major awareness event at Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital – KMHFR in Kariobangi—the very community where she once faced stigma.

"We are more than 300 cervical cancer survivors," she says. "I want to make sure Kariobangi becomes 100 per cent stigma-free."

 While acknowledging government efforts to make the HPV vaccine freely available in public facilities, Kagonga advocates for greater involvement of cancer survivors in awareness campaigns. "When survivors share their stories, show their photos, and talk about their journey, people understand better," she insists.