Cervical cancer often develops silently, but its consequences can be devastating if not diagnosed in time. For 36-year-old Milicent Kagonga, a mother of three, early warning signs like irregular bleeding, pelvic pain, and persistent discharge were easy to overlook. For years, she endured a heavy discharge, unaware that it was a red flag — until the diagnosis finally came.
Although she was 20 at the time, she vividly remembers the intense pain in her abdomen. “It was even difficult to tell someone that I had a discharge down there; I was shy. At that time, issues concerning anything below the belt were kept a secret, so I suffered in silence.” As her health worsened, her marriage fell apart, adding to the emotional toll of her deteriorating condition.
While working as a housekeeper she saw a television program describing symptoms that felt all too familiar. “I ticked every symptom the lady on the TV described, but I said, no, it can’t be cervical cancer. Where I come from, we know cancer as a disease for the rich – those who can afford to go to the hospital. I was poor and couldn’t afford to go to the hospital, so it can’t be it,” she recalls. In her community, there wasn’t even a word for cancer, which meant, to them, it didn’t exist.
When she finally gathered the strength to go to the hospital, the nurses refused to screen or test her for cancer, as at that time, screenings were only offered to those aged 35 and above.
“I was 25, so they refused to screen me. They just gave me antibiotics and painkillers and sent me home,” she says.
But the pain persisted, and so did the discharge, so she returned to the hospital.
“I was told I had cervical cancer — stage 4, advanced,” she says.
“I was shocked. I had so many questions but no one to answer them,” Kagonga remembers.
Cervical cancer treatment — especially in its advanced stages — requires timely intervention. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are the most common methods. Still, these options are out of reach for women like Kagonga, with no medical cover.
She was told to get treatment she had to pay $450.
“I couldn’t afford it,” she says, her voice trembling. “The cost of care was too much.”
Millicent Kagonga at her home in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi, Kenya in October 2024.
After many sleepless nights filled with worries about how she would afford her treatment, a friend told her about Kenyatta National Hospital. As a referral hospital offering cervical cancer treatment at a lower cost, it seemed like her only hope. Discouraged by the high expenses at her initial hospital, she reluctantly made her way to the referral center.
“When I arrived, they assured me I would receive treatment. I felt so grateful that my health insurance covered part of the cost while friends and fellow cancer survivors helped with the rest. Their support truly saved my life,” she says.
She remembers how she would sleep in the hospital corridors because she didn’t have money to go home and come back the next day for treatment. “It was difficult. There were a lot of women in this hospital. Others were hopeless, and we had cancer survivors come to encourage us to finish the treatment. I persevered until I finished my treatment,” Kagonga says.
In Kenya, it is estimated that about eight women die due to cervical cancer every day, with more than 90% of cases in Kenya being diagnosed at advanced stages.
Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus so common that nearly all sexually active individuals will contract it at some point in their lives.
There are over 100 types of HPV, but only a few strains cause cervical cancer. Yet, despite its commonality, the virus is heavily stigmatized and often perceived as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) linked with immoral behavior, especially for women.
As if dealing with a life-threatening disease wasn’t enough, Kagonga says the stigma and discrimination hit hard when word of her diagnosis spread through her community.
Friends distanced themselves, relatives whispered behind her back, and judgmental looks became a constant companion. “Due to lack of knowledge, some people in my community thought I was bewitched; some thought it was a curse. It was difficult, I even thought of killing myself,” she says.
Kagonga's story is far from unique; her experience reflects the silent struggles of countless women facing not only cervical cancer but also the crushing weight of societal judgment.
While her story is one of struggle, it's also one of survival and advocacy.
In 2019, she officially registered her non-profit organization, Symbol of Hope Warriors. Since then, more than 5,000 people have benefitted through food dignity parcels, accommodation, health insurance support, and tuition fee support, just to mention a few.
The organization is currently constructing a safe house for children orphaned by cancer in Kitale, a rural area in northwest Kenya. “We want to create a safe space for children who have lost parents to cancer. Many can’t return to their families due to stigma. Grieving a parent is already hard enough, and we don’t want these children to face further trauma,” says Kagonga.
Together with six other cancer survivors, she visits communities and schools to raise awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of the HPV vaccine. So far, she has reached about 26 schools. She is affectionately known in her community as “Yule mama wa cancer,” meaning “the cancer mother.”
Milicent Kagonga
Millicent Kagonga (right) and fellow activist Monica Njeri walk along the street in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi, Kenya. Njeri, another cancer survivor working alongside Kagonga, was supported by Symbol of Hope Warriors during her diagnosis.
Milicent Kagonga
Millicent Kagonga addresses students at a school ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 24, 2024. Together with other cancer survivors, Kagonga visits communities and schools to raise awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of the HPV vaccine.
Milicent Kagonga
Millicent Kagonga (right) and Monica Njeri (left), another cancer survivor working alongside Kagonga, walk in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi, Kenya in October 2024.
Milicent Kagonga
Millicent Kagonga outside her house in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi, Kenya in October 2024.
Drawing from her own experience, she encourages women to get screened and urges parents to ensure their eligible children receive the HPV vaccine.
In Kenya in 2021, 77% of eligible girls had received the first dose of the HPV vaccine, but only 31% completed the full two-dose regimen.
Kagonga’s daughter was one of the first girls in Kenya to be vaccinated.
Cervical cancer is preventable, and early detection is key. Regular screenings, such as Pap smears and HPV tests, can detect precancerous changes early.
“Unfortunately, many women lack access to these preventive measures due to cost, geographic limitations, or cultural stigmas around sexual health. My role is to encourage them to get these services,” she explains.
Today, Kagonga continues her fight — not just for her own survival but for other women facing similar struggles. "Cervical cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence," she says, "but the silence and shame surrounding it can be."
Kagonga’s journey reminds everyone of the power of awareness, compassion, and the need for systemic change in women’s health.
Monica Njeri, 54, another cancer survivor working alongside Kagonga, shares how Symbol of Hope Warriors supported her during her diagnosis. “I was suffering and I had lost all hope. I was ready to die. A friend introduced me to Mili (Kagonga) and my life changed. She gave me hope,” she says.
Through the Symbol of Hope Warriors, Njeri found comfort and a family that understood her. “Now I’m also helping other cancer patients and survivors. You can’t walk this journey alone, you need people by your side. We go into the communities and encourage people to be screened and tested. For those with children, we encourage them to get the HPV vaccine. My daughter got the HPV vaccine,” she says proudly.
By fostering a supportive environment and promoting education, they are not only saving lives but also inspiring hope. With increased awareness and systemic change, cervical cancer can become a preventable disease, ensuring that every woman has the chance to thrive.
Millicent Kagonga (right) and Monica Njeri (left) are photographed in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi, Kenya in October 2024.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a content series that was made possible with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.