By Shifrah Kayaga
It’s so disheartening how you come a long way to conclude Education life and your Health stiffens to finish you up instead. This is what fourth year law student Rachael Aliza at Nkumba University is undergoing after being put down by meduloblastoma.
The 24-year-old lady is under severe pain as the tumor affected her sight especially the right eye and she has been referred to India on 21st September for an operation that will determine her stay or leave on this planet. This disease is part of a brain tumor although the difference with meduloblastoma is that it grows at the centre of the brain, spreads faster and kills for not so long.
The October graduand is now confided in a wheelchair awaiting all those good Samaritans capable of rescuing her by God’s mercy to do the needful through helping her raise 120m needed for her successful surgery in India.
Cancer has now become a killer disease in Uganda yet it’s costly to treat with most of its patients living below the poverty line. Lots of people have been seeking for help including professor Abasi Kiyimba a MAK lecturer, Raymond Bamwesigye a student from MUBS and many others putting up campaigns to raise the huge amounts required to be have their lives saved.
About Meduloblastoma
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, meduloblastoma is the most common tumour(cancer) originating in the part of the brain that is towards the back and the bottom, on the floor of the skull in the cerebellum. Historically, the disease has been classified as PNET ( Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour), and unlike other tumors, meduloblastoma spreads in different locations along the surface of the brain and spinal code.
The cumulative relative survival rate for all age groups and histology follow up was 60%, 52% and 32% at 5 years, 10 years and 20 years respectively. They are usually present for 1 to 5 months before diagnosis is made.
The signs of meduloblastoma that shouldn’t be taken for granted include repeated episodes of vomiting, morning headache, positional dizziness, facial sensory loss and motor weakness. However meduloblastoma can be treated in away of maximal surgical remove of the tumour, the addition of radiation to the entire neuraxis and chemotherapy may increase the disease free survival.
Although, radiation isn’t so much recommended as it has got side effects of cognitive impairment, psychiatric illness, bone growth retardation, hearing loss and endocrine disruption.
The survival age for adults stands at 67% and thus the possibility of saving Racheal’s life is high the reason why we all should stand together for this sister of ours. Remember she only has 2 weeks to raise this life saving money that will foot her medical expenses.
The numbers to reach for help are 0772514328, 0705372752, or crane bank on AC No.014000350000 (IDAH KAUDHA).
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