Amuge’s cancer appeared while he was in Senior One

Sarah Amuge, a resident of Katakwi District, realized in 2010 that she had swelling on her right breast.

But as a teenager in Senior One, she didn’t mind, even though she was told she had to go to a hospital.

However, after two years, the fear of developing breast cancer and dying without having children entered her mind and she escaped from school while in Senior Three to get married.

“I didn’t want my breast cut off because I knew I would die without producing a child, so I got a man who then made me pregnant,” Ms Amuge said.

She also says that students at school used to laugh at her breasts.

After she got married, the pain in her chest worsened and when she visited Katakwi General Hospital, she was referred to Matany Hospital in Napak district.

Her breast was cut off here in April 2012. After spending two months in Matany Hospital, she was discharged by medical staff, but with a strong warning that she would not be allowed to do any heavy work for two years. Due to her condition, the man left her with a two-week-old baby, saying he could not stay with a woman with only one breast.

“It was a really bad situation. The man who got me pregnant abandoned me and so far he has never come back,” said Mrs Amuge.

She adds that people in her community used to call her a one-breasted woman, which made her feel rejected and would cry all the time.

However, she says that’s when she developed the idea to start a business because she had a child to take care of.

At the age of 28, Mrs. Amuge is engaged in raising and selling roasted chicken to survive. She currently has five children.

She says breast removal is not the end of the world and encourages cancer victims to be strong and patient, saying acceptance is a way of healing.

“Don’t be afraid to contact the medical staff if you have pain in your body, follow what the medical workers tell you to do. This will help you a lot,” says Mrs. Amuge.