Fighting Cancer in Africa - Voices of doctors and patients (IAEA) April 2006
It's my story: A patient
Francis Musutwa: A patient
Summary:
With a cancerous tumour in his knee, Francis Musutwa, a 25 year old electrician, faced the prospect of amputation. However after discussions with his doctors they decided on surgery to remove the tumour followed by a course of radiation therapy. Francis explains how friendly the doctors are and what his radiation treatment is like.
Suggested introduction:
Francis Musutwa has an unusual cancer. The tumour grew inside his knee, at first the doctor's felt that the leg would have to be amputated but then it was decided that the leg could be saved if the 25 year old electrician had an operation to remove the tumour followed by a course of radiation therapy. Francis is waiting outside the treatment room for his next dose. This is his story.
Tape in:
I am Musutwa Francis, I am 25 years old...
Tape out:
...sisters and to get a family, yah.
Closing Announcement:
A media toolkit for reporting on cancer and its treatment. This pack has been produced for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Transcript
Musutwa
I am Musutwa Francis, I am 25 years old. My profession is I am an electrician. At first they want to amputate me and I refused to amputate. I talked to the doctors and they get a discussion meeting and they decided to cut out this tumour.
After cutting, after surgery my doctor came and he referred me to the radiotherapy department. My treatment was for 20 days, as far as I am living now, I count eleven days and there is some difference.
When I come for treatment the doctors are so friendly to me. When I came here today for my treatment I went inside because here they work on one person. You have to wait until the red light goes off and you go there. When you get inside you have to lie there. There is a target where the exact part, so that the machine can radiate you from down and up. They radiate us two times. Yes, it is a short time like 3 or 2 minutes they radiate you.
I think my future will be fine as long as God is on my side, because I am not one who has all the power on my life, only God knows what to do, what is next. But I have a responsibility to look after my small sisters and brothers. So I have to work very hard so that I look after my brothers and sisters and to get a family, yah. End of track
