In Sierra Leone; cancer group champions campaign to save girl from excessive tumor

The non-governmental organization, Rowaca Cancer Group – Sierra Leone, with the support of Childhood Cancer (CHOC) South Africa is presently advocating for the provision of medical help for 3 year 7 months old Zainab Koroma who is blind in the one eye and presently suffering from excessive tumor in the affected eye.
Zainab Kamara was healthy when she was born and life was promising for her young parents until an elderly person said to them she was not a normal girl- her eyes see beyond the normal person.
Her parent took her to a tribal doctor who used herbs in her eyes.
Her mother said she later noticed Zainab scratching her eye.
“We noticed later that she was not seeing properly and we took her to the Magbeseneh hospital but we were referred to the Eye clinic where we were informed her eye had become faulty.
According to the parent she totally lost her sight in the one eye but that two months ago the bad eye was swollen.
“Now the doctors said her case is serious,” lamented her other, adding ‘I am afraid for my daughter’s life.’
The Team Leader of RCG-SL, Alpha Kamara, said he was informed about the child and that after seeing her condition urgently informed the Director of the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC).
Kamara said through CHOC’s effort, the case of the child has attracted international concerns and efforts are presently ongoing to save her life.
“We are presently collaborating with the doctor in charge of the case to communicate with a doctor abroad who has shown interest to find a solution to the girl’s case,” Kamara said, adding that she needs Chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
He said the girl might have developed cancerous cells and needs standard medical attention to cure her.
Cancer begins when a particular cell or group of cells in the body begin to multiply and grow without control. Oncology is the study of these cells.
The cancerous cells stop working properly and as their numbers increase they form a lump or tumour. Eventually, the normal cells will be crowded out and the cancerous cells, if not treated, will take over. When cancer cells break away and spread to other parts of the body they may produce secondary tumours known as metastases.
Sometimes the cancer will affect the blood, causing leukaemia.
Kamara said Childhood cancers are quite different from cancers affecting adults. They tend to occur in different parts of the body, look different under the microscope, and respond differently to treatment. Cure rates for most childhood cancers are much higher than those for most adult cancers. Today, the majority of childhood cancers can be treated very effectively, and 65-70% can now be completely cured. Culled from http://inwent-iij-lab.org