Aziza is a student from Tanzania. She is the oldest child in a family of three children. She has a swelling on her left thigh that keeps growing each day, and she has been complaining of pain.
Aziza traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On May 7, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Aziza needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure.
Aziza’s father says, “Please help my daughter get her treatment we are not able to afford her treatment cost.”
Aziza underwent a mass removal procedure.
Aziza was able to have her mass excision removed that was causing her pain. The mass was suspected to be cancerous. She was able to complete her dressing and referred to KCMC hospital for further treatment management.
Aziza’s grandmother says, “Thank you for helping fund my granddaughter’s surgery that helped remove her mass swelling I hope she gets well soon.”
Aziza was submitted by Joan Kadagaya, SAFE Senior Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.
Aziza's profile was published to start raising funds.
Aziza received treatment at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) in Tanzania. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
Aziza's treatment was fully funded.
What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?
Broadly speaking, masses come in two types: benign (not cancer) and malignant (cancer). The types of tumors are many and could range from osteosarcoma of the jaw (a bone tumor) to thyroid enlargement to breast lump to lipoma (benign fat tumor), among others. The symptoms vary depending on the type of tumor. Not all tumors, cancerous or benign, show symptoms. A common benign tumor, such as a lipoma (fatty tumor), may cause local pressure and pain, or may be disfiguring and socially stigmatizing. An ovarian mass may be benign or cancerous and may cause pain, bleeding, or, if malignant, death.
What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?
If the tumor is cancerous, it is usually aggressive and invasive. If not treated (like certain skin cancers, for example) there could be great tissue destruction, pain, deformity, and ultimately death.
What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?
There are so many different kinds of masses so it is difficult to state what the significance is.
What does the treatment process look like?
The process depends on the location of the mass and whether it is cancerous or benign.
What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?
In the case of cancer, the procedure can be life-saving. In the case of benign tumors, patients can be free of pain or social stigma.
What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?
If the tumor is cancerous, the surgeon will only try to remove it if the procedure would be curative. If cancer has already spread, then surgery cannot help. Most of these surgeries are not very risky.
How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?
There are few qualified facilities and surgeons to perform this procedure.
What are the alternatives to this treatment?
Alternatives depend on the type of tumor. If the tumor is cancerous, chemotherapy may help, but that treatment is even less available than surgery. If the tumor is benign, it depends on the condition but just watching the mass would be one option.