Judy Wanyoike was diagnosed with stage 2B cervical cancer in 2012 following a Pap Smear test. Despite surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, the cancer returned in 2019 and again in 2022. Experts stress the need for early detection to prevent recurrence.
In 2011, Judy Wanyoike began experiencing back pain and vaginal bleeding, a condition that persisted until 2012 during a church seminar in Naivasha. A Pap Smear test detected abnormalities, and further tests at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) confirmed stage 2B cervical cancer. She underwent a hysterectomy, along with chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy, leading to improvement.
However, in 2019 the cancer recurred, preventing her from passing stool. Scans revealed a cancerous tumor, removed surgically, and she completed chemotherapy and radiation in April 2020. In 2022, back pain returned, spreading to her neck, requiring four chemotherapy sessions and a PET scan in August.
Dr. Catherine Nyongesa, a cancer specialist in Nairobi, explains, “Cancer returns when cancer cells remain in the body after treatment and start growing again.” The risk depends on the cancer stage, treatment type, and patient's condition. For stage I, recurrence chance is 5-15% within 2-3 years; stages II-III, 30-40%; and stage IV, up to 50%.
Many women delay screening, so cancer is often detected after spreading. HPV infections (types 16 and 18), weak immunity, smoking, poor diet, and stress contribute to recurrence. Symptoms include pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding or discharge, difficulty with urination or defecation, leg swelling, and unexplained weight loss.
Early detection via Pap Smear is the best prevention method, identifying abnormal cells before they become cancerous.