Cancer’s loss, her victory

DODOMA: WHEN Jema Baruani was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2017, her world collapsed in an instant. She had never imagined hearing the word cancer in reference to herself.

Fear crept in, and she thought life was over for anyone living with the disease. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which plays a major role in protecting the body from infections.

Before her diagnosis, Jema had been struggling with constant fatigue, unexplained weight loss and unusual swellings around her neck and underarms. She recalls how confusing those months were.

The symptoms did not fit into anything she could easily explain, and she now cautions that no two patients experience the same signs. Jema urges regular health check-ups and quick medical attention whenever something unusual appears.

“It’s frightening when cancer comes into your life,” she says softly. For Jema, chemotherapy was the main treatment. The drugs were strong and often left her weak, nauseous and in pain. Yet she held on to the small victories that came with every hospital visit. “Chemotherapy can be both a blessing and a burden because while it destroys the cancer cells, it also harms the healthy ones,” she said.

Each session took a toll on her body, but she refused to lose faith. What kept her going was the thought of her young daughter, who was five years old at the time.

“She gave me strength,” Jema says.

“Knowing that she looks up to me made me determined to live. I have to be her role model and a responsible mother. I couldn’t give up.” Her family and friends became another source of comfort.

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They stood by her through the sleepless nights, the painful injections and the moments of doubt. Their love and prayers gave her hope when she had little left of her own.

She remembers the turning point vividly the day she decided to stop living in fear. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s words “Be the change you want to see in the world,” she promised herself to face life with courage.

“Those words stayed with me, I realised I could either give in to the illness or choose to live fully with it. I chose life,” Jema said.

That decision marked the beginning of what she calls her ‘New Me.’ It was not an easy transformation. There were still bad days, hospital check-ups and side effects that lingered, but she learned to approach each day with gratitude. “It was time to be happy,” she says.

“Being angry and sad was not worth it anymore. I learned to let things flow and stay positive.” After completing several rounds of treatment, Jema was declared cancer-free. The joy was overwhelming. For the first time in months, she could breathe deeply without fear of what tomorrow might bring.

“I am a survivor,” she says firmly. “And I won’t stop surviving.” She discovered that healing required more than medicine. Good nutrition and self-care became central to her new lifestyle. Jema began eating with intention, choosing foods that nourished her and helped her body recover.

“A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the most important measure anyone can take “It helps the body flush out toxins and builds the strength you need during and after treatment,” she said.

Her energy returned gradually. The fatigue and weight loss that once defined her days faded away.

Today, she looks vibrant and full of purpose.

“I see myself as a living testimony that God is real, He can change any situation for the better,” Jema said.

Her faith, once shaken, is now unshakable.

She often speaks about how spiritual strength played a huge role in her recovery. Prayer became her daily companion, and she believes it was God’s grace that carried her through the darkest nights.

After five years of battling and finally winning, Jema felt compelled to help others walking the same path. Out of that desire, she founded the Jema Foundation, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness about cancer, promoting early diagnosis and fighting stigma against patients.

She wanted the foundation to be a space of comfort, knowledge and hope.

“Many people fear even talking about cancer. But the truth is, speaking about it openly helps others seek help early and face it with courage,” Ms Jema said.

She said that the foundation runs awareness campaigns, organises fundraising dinners and sells branded items such as pens, handkerchiefs, umbrellas and Tshirts to support its projects.

“Proceeds are channelled into patient support, educational materials and hospital donations,” she said.

Recently, with the support of Silent Ocean, the Jema Foundation donated wheelchairs, crutches and foot supports to cancer patients at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH). The foundation also handed over awareness materials to help spread information about prevention and treatment. “It feels fulfilling to give back,” Jema says.

“I know how it feels to sit in a hospital bed and wonder if you’ll make it. If my story can inspire someone not to lose hope, then my pain was not in vain.”

She urges Tanzanians to learn the basics about cancer and to seek medical help early. Jema also wants more people to know what she calls the ABCs of cancer (Awareness, Bravery and Care). Awareness means understanding your body and going for check-ups; Bravery means facing the diagnosis without fear; and Care means living a balanced, healthy life.

Through her work, Jema continues to change perceptions about cancer survivors. She believes survival is not just about living longer but about living better with purpose, joy and gratitude.

“I no longer see myself as a victim,” she says with a smile. “I see myself as a gift of life from God.”