PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR FOCUS, Q & A: PATALI MKORONGO TELLS HIS STORY

Some followers of Talking Cancer come from the group of people who have survived different types of cancer. To reflect their experiences to the public, the blog frequently features their stories in Questions and Answers.

The latest interview was with Patali Mkorongo, a prostate cancer survivor, who was declared cancer-free in 2015.

Patali Mkorongo, a prostate cancer survivor

Q: Can you tell us about yourself?

A: My name is Patali Mkorongo. I am 30 years old, a third born in a family of four children with one sister. My father passed away in 1997 and was raised by my mother. I am currently working for NBS bank.  

Q: What type of cancer were you originally diagnosed with?

A: I was diagnosed at Mwaiwathu Hospital with prostate cancer, a tumor attached to the bladder that was growing fast. The tumor got big to the size of a ball.

Q: What were the symptoms that you initially felt before the diagnosis?

A:  Fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of weight, fever and constipation.

Q: Which year were you diagnosed?

A: I was diagnosed in September 2013 but I started feeling the symptoms from May, 2013.

Q: How did you receive your treatment until you were pronounced cancer-free?

A: I was put on chemotherapy which went on for eight months non-stop.

Q: Can you recall what it felt like when you were given this diagnosis?

A: After the diagnosis, basically I felt like I was going to die because that is how I pictured cancer. I thought if you have the disease, you are bound to die.

Q: How did your family react to the news?

A: I think they were hiding their true feelings but it wasn’t easy for them. Despite being worried of what may happen, they granted me full support.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced and most important lessons you learnt throughout your cancer journey?

A: The biggest challenge was keeping up with the side effects of chemotherapy.

The biggest lesson that I learnt was that we have to put God first in everything and always stay positive besides what is happening around us. People come and go, but put your main focus on getting better if you want to get better. Pray for courage.

Q: Where did you get relevant information about the disease?

A: I got all information from the doctor who was treating me, Dr. Leo Masamba. Before my diagnosis, I knew nothing and had no interest with cancer.

Q: In your opinion, why is it important to be educated about issues of cancer?

A: It is important because it helps recognize cancer at early stages which is easier to treat than when it is fully grown.

Q: What are you doing to raise awareness about the disease?

A: I make sure to be part of every activity related to cancer. Mostly I share my story and empower people through my music. This has highly attracted the interest of many people in understanding how I battled the disease.

Q: If you could offer advice to anyone battling with cancer, what would you say?

A: I would advise people battling cancer to pray. Do not stop your treatment, fight with the little energy you have. Giving up is never an option. It is not always as bad as it seems. There is always something worse than what you are going through, so hold on.

Q: What is the one thing that you would like people to learn from your story? 

A: We cannot always prevent cancer, but we can prevent cancer from killing us. God is always listening to our prayers although we might think otherwise. Fight for your loved ones, if not for yourself. Prove the world wrong that cancer does not mean death.