The oncology unit has treated patients with a varied number of tumours including breast cancer, lymphomas (including Burkitts, Hodgkins and Non Hodgkins), head and neck tumours, oesophageal, bladder and prostate cancers, choriocarcinoma, head and neck tumours, Kaposis sarcoma, colorectal/ anal cancers, rhabdomyosarcomas, hepatoblastomas, osteosarcomas, lung cancer etc.

 
The following are some of the lives that we see on the unit:

From left to right: Salome’s child of 2 years, Salome’s husband, Salome the patient.

(Personal details are given with the express consent of the patient.)

Salome (phonetically pronounced Sarume)

Salome was found wandering around one of the main government hospitals in Kampala. Salome, her husband and 2 year old child had boarded a lorry to a Western town called Kisoro. This was the only transport available from the village to a town which had a day’s bus journey to Kampala. She was in pain and desperate for help as she had a rapidly growing right breast cancer. This had previously been operated more locally, but the cancer had returned. They had left several other children behind with the eldest of 16 years looking after the remaining young children. When she finally arrived at the hospital she spent money getting investigations, then couldn’t afford the treatment for breast cancer. They were in Kampala a month because they were searching for money for transport back!

Salome’s plight was told to Dr Helena who suggested she came to Hope Ward. With kind help from Hope Ward sponsors and an additional sponsor to fund her transport to and from her home village, she has received 3 treatments of outpatient chemotherapy and the lump has significantly reduced. She is due 3 more treatments, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Without sponsors, Salome would have had no chance of life and left 6 children motherless. Tragically this is all too common and there are millions of new orphans counted each year in Uganda created by similar circumstances.

This 20 yr old young lady has a condition called choriocarcinoma which is curable even in the advanced stages. She bled so heavily that her blood volume was less than a quarter of the normal values. She required several blood transfusions per week and an urgent dose of radiotherapy to stem the bleeding. She has now started chemotherapy with the help of a number of sponsors as some of the drugs (etoposide and dactinomycin) require importing from Kenya.

Sadly another 26 year old lady with the same condition unburdened herself and shared that as soon as it was discovered that she had cancer her husband left her and their 6 month old baby and 2 other children. She was distraught and ran to a wealthier brother for help who shut the door in her face and told her he wanted nothing to do with her – such is the stigma and attitude towards cancer in Uganda!

When she was told that she was going to receive “free” treatment she wept for the entire afternoon. She is so grateful for the help that she has received from her sponsors.

Ben is a young student who was chased away from his district south of the Karamojong – the feared warrior clan (- there is a saying that they believe every cattle in the world is theirs and violently attack surrounding areas to obtain their cattle!) He had nasopharyngeal cancer (cancer of the head and neck) and needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy. An NGO linked up with Hope Ward to ensure that he had treatment as he was unable to breathe and was originally so weak that he needed a wheelchair. He is now much improved post treatment, but sadly his hut in Soroti has recently been washed away by the recent floods and we need to link up with NGOs to ensure he has finds a new home.

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"These are just a few stories about the kind of patients we see on Hope Ward. This ward is about giving dignity, hope and a future.

As a doctor, alone, I can do nothing, but with sponsors who care, we can give hope and change lives."