Watsi

Success! Stella from Kenya raised $800 for cervical cancer treatment.

100%

$800 raised, $0 to go

$800

raised

to go

Fully funded

Stella's treatment was fully funded on May 3, 2016.

Stella's story
Stella's update

Photo of Stella post-operation

June 15, 2016

Stella received cervical cancer treatment.

Stella had a successful total abdominal hysterectomy surgery, and is recovering well. The chances of cancer development and spread, which could lead to death, have been significantly reduced. Stella will now be relieved from the pain and fatigue and she will be able to work.

“Thank you Watsi, may God bless you and favor you always,” Stella said after her operation.

Stella had a successful total abdominal hysterectomy surgery, and is recovering well. The chances of cancer development and spread, which co...

April 15, 2016

Stella is a 46-year-old mother of three children living in Kenya. She operates a small green grocery, often selling pre-prepared vegetables to earn a living; and her husband is a carpenter and his income is small.

Stella has cervical cancer, and she experiences fatigue and lower abdominal pain from time to time. Due to this fatigue, Stella is unable to attend to her business and has to close it most times.

Stella went for cervical cancer screening and a LEEP procedure (treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix) in November 2015. Afterwards, the doctor advised for a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) procedure for better management of her CIN 3 (severely abnormal cells found on the surface of the cervix).

If not treated, her condition may spread. However, a TAH for $800 can reduce the chances of further cancer development and spread. Stella will be relieved from the pain and fatigue and she will be able to work.

“I hope to live longer and see my grandchildren,” Stella said.

Stella is a 46-year-old mother of three children living in Kenya. She operates a small green grocery, often selling pre-prepared vegetables ...

Submitted by

Learn more

Stella's case was submitted by Beatrice Njoroge at African Mission Healthcare.

Stella's Timeline

April 15, 2016
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Stella was submitted by Beatrice Njoroge, Curative Medical Support Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.
April 18, 2016
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Stella received treatment at AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. 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.
May 2, 2016
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Stella's profile was published to start raising funds.
May 3, 2016
FULLY FUNDED
Stella's treatment was fully funded.
June 15, 2016
TREATMENT UPDATE
Stella's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Share Stella's story

Funded by 29 donors

Funded by 29 donors

Treatment

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Diagnosis
Procedure

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Symptoms vary depending on the condition that requires the total abdominal hysterectomy. If the cause is cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer, there may not be symptoms, especially if the cancer is early-stage. In more advanced cases of cervical and uterine cancers, abnormal bleeding, unusual discharge, and pelvic or abdominal pain can occur. Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include trouble eating, trouble feeling full, bloating, and urinary abnormality. If the cause is fibroids, symptoms may include heavy bleeding, pain in the pelvis or lower back, and swelling or enlargement of the abdomen.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Fibroids can grow large, cause abdominal pain and swelling, and lead to recurring bleeding and anemia. Cancer can cause pain and lead to death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Most cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV), which can often occur alongside a HIV infection. As a result, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among African women in areas of high HIV prevalence. Cervical cancer is also more prevalent in Africa than in the United States due to the lack of early-detection screening programs. The other conditions treated by a total abdominal hysterectomy are not necessarily more common in Africa.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

The patient first reports for laboratory testing. The following day, the patient undergoes surgery. After the operation, the patient stays in the hospital ward for three to four days, during which she is continually monitored. The surgery is considered successful if the wound heals without infection, bleeding, or fever, and if the patient no longer experiences urinary dysfunction.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

In the case of uterine fibroids or early-stage cancer, a total abdominal hysterectomy is curative.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

If performed early enough, this surgery is low-risk and curative, with few side effects.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

This surgery is available, but many patients cannot afford it. Many women are screened for cervical cancer with a low-cost alternative to a pap smear. This is common in HIV treatment programs. If necessary, the woman is referred for surgery, which she often cannot afford.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

If cervical cancer is caught early enough, some minor procedures can solve the problem. Women with fibroids who still wish to have children may opt to undergo a surgery only to remove the fibroids, which is called a myomectomy.

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