Eliminating the Breast Cancer Taboo in Kenya, Africa
Certified Lemonista (breast health educator), Mary Nafula from Kenya, Africa has been a volunteer with Know Your Lemonista for 3 years and has taught 23 classes to a total of 944 people.
Breaking barriers and defying taboos, Know Your Lemons Lemonistas (breast health educators) are on a mission to shatter the silence surrounding breast cancer. As a breast cancer foundation, we understand the pervasive fear and cultural stigma that envelops both cancer and breasts, making it a sensitive and challenging topic to address. Until now. With the Know Your Lemons innovative and creative campaign, we are determined to dispel myths and provide vital education about breast health to alleviate these fears. The people in this experience have given their permission for us to share their story, names and locations.
On March 7th, 2023, Know Your Lemons educator, Mary Nafula, helped a woman named Kadzo Katana, who was chased away from her community because they thought she was a bad omen since she had symptoms of breast cancer. As the director of our charity partner Warriors of Hope foundation, Mary was able to help this woman by connecting her with an oncology nurse, who enabled her to start her treatment and offered her a safe place to live.
Mary uses Know Your Lemons educational materials to help teach women and men in her community. She teaches about 7-10 villages a day up to 40 km outside of her home, and it takes her 3 hours to reach the most remote areas.
Mary went back to Kadzo’s village and did two breast health education classes. Though this community is extremely rural and male dominated, Mary has been slowly helping them understand that cancer is a disease that can anyone can get and, if diagnosed early, is curable. As a certified Know Your Lemons Lemonista, she was able to teach this community of men by using visuals and materials that used lemons instead of breasts to help them learn and understand.
On June 12, 2023, Kadzo completed her chemo and started radiotherapy. She said that she is so grateful for the Know Your Lemons teaching session that helped her feel comfortable enough to open up about her breast concerns. She says, ‘if it weren't for Mary’s teaching session, I wouldn't be alive today.’ She shares that at first she felt very depressed from the stigma and shunning she received from her family and community after her diagnosis, but since then she has been able to turn the sourest of lemons into the sweetest lemonade by helping organize Know Your Lemons breast health education classes for women like her, living in other rural communities across Kenya.
Breast cancer survivor, Kadzo Katana, holds up the “12 signs of what breast cancer can look and feel like” poster that helped save her life, in her rural village in Kenya, Africa. Because our volunteer educator Mary, was able to come to Kadzo’s village to teach about breast health, Kadzo saw this image and was diagnosed early. This image saved her life.
Despite the progress we are making in the West for women’s health, it’s important to recognize that breast cancer taboo and fear are still alive in most parts of the world. Know Your Lemons Lemonistas are working tirelessly to help their communities understand the importance of breast health, symptom recognition, and knowing how to navigate the healthcare system, no matter where they live. Know Your Lemons Lemonistas are passionate volunteers who are making a difference in turning breast cancer awareness into action in 60+ countries worldwide. When you donate to Know Your Lemons, your donations are used to support Know Your Lemons educators, like Mary, so they have printed materials to leave behind after their sessions and so that women like Kadzo, can share what they’ve learned with other women in their community. Support Mary and Kadzo by making a donation today.
