Nairobi Journalist Shares Journey to Surviving Breast Cancer, How it Reshaped Her Life
- A routine check-up turned into a life-or-death fight for Nairobi journalist Carol Kinuthia after she was diagnosed with breast cancer
- Through months of surgery, chemo, and radiotherapy in India, she clung to hope and a smile, refusing to let the illness define her
- Now cancer-free, CK is living with intention and urging others to listen to their bodies before it’s too late.
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When media personality Carol Kinuthia, fondly known as CK, walked into a routine medical check-up last year, she didn’t imagine her life was about to change forever.
Source: UGC
The media consultant was diagnosed with breast cancer, a discovery that sent her on a year-long battle against a disease that demands everything: physically, emotionally, and financially.
Carol Kinuthia's lessons from cancer journey
In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, the former news reporter shared that she is grateful it was caught early and hadn’t spread.
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“That made all the difference. My biggest lesson? Listen to your body. Don’t ignore any unusual swelling or prolonged pain, and don’t self-medicate. Take action immediately.”
From May to September, CK underwent surgery and gruelling chemotherapy sessions in New Delhi, India.
The treatment was exhausting: chills, nausea, and fatigue became part of her daily life.
Carol Kinuthia's experience with chemotherapy
Yet she stubbornly refused to “look anything like the illness,” often taking cheerful photos for her son and keeping her spirits high for those around her.
Her mantra, “In everything, give thanks” and “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”, became her anchor. Even her doctors and nurses were inspired by her upbeat spirit.
“Chemo is uncomfortable,” she admits, “but I told myself I would come out stronger. I didn’t let the illness define me.”
Behind her was a strong network of family and friends who not only provided emotional support but also organised a fundraiser to finance her treatment and stay in India.
Insurance, personal savings, and community contributions made the journey possible.
“It, really, takes a village,” CK says. “I wouldn’t have done it without them.”
Lessons from cancer journey
After the treatment, CK underwent a month of radiotherapy before finally returning home to Nairobi. The experience has reshaped her life in profound ways.
“I’m doing life very differently now,” she says. “I’m intentional with every move I make, and I don’t take anything for granted. You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only option left.”
Today, CK shares her story publicly to inspire other cancer patients and survivors to keep fighting.
“If I did it, so can you,” she says with a smile. Her message is one of hope, resilience, and gratitude, a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, light can still break through.
Source: UGC
The inspiring story of Quinn Elsa
In another inspiring story about surviving cancer, Quinn Elsa was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer in 2016.
The then-three-year-old captured the hearts of Kenyans due to her bubbly personality amid the tough period, which inspired an emotional online campaign.
She recently appeared in public after beating cancer, leaving Kenyans impressed by her transformation from a frail, hairless baby into a gorgeous pre-teen.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
