Experiences of Women With Breast Cancer During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The global cancer burden is increasing and Breast Cancer is now the top cause of death among women, most in the prime of their lives, the majority of whom are from the poorer nations of the world. Cancer is therefore ranked the number two global leading cause of fatality among non-communicable diseases Every aspect of life as we know it changed drastically when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Governments across the world instituted stringent measures in order to curb the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. The daily briefings in Kenya and in the world concerning the risk for citizenry with comorbidity, women living with breast cancer were at higher risk. The mixed method approach used in this study lends an ear to the voices of these women and records how the pandemic presented new and exciting training and employment opportunities leading to a positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their socio-economic status. This study looked at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of a select number of women with breast cancer living at the epicenter of the pandemic in Nairobi, Kenya during the period from March 2020 to September 2021. The study found that majority of these women were empowered by the unique opportunities presented by virtual upskilling, and many more job opportunities that allowed them to work despite their comorbidity. While some of the lockdown measures resulted in closures, re-prioritizing, and reduction of ‘in-person’ interaction it also presented flexibility and new approaches to psycho-social support and socio-economic support to women living with breast cancer.