Miriam Mutebi: Hope is a delicate, feathered thing

Miriam Mutebi posted on LinkedIn:

“Hope is a delicate, feathered thing.

It doesn’t promise a cure or guarantee an easy journey, but it has the power to uplift and sustain us through the most challenging times. In cancer care, especially across Africa, hope plays a crucial role—not in offering false assurances, but in balancing the reality of a diagnosis with the possibility of better days ahead.

For many patients, hearing the words ‘aggressive cancer’ can feel like a heavy weight overwhelming their sense of what’s possible. But even in these moments, there is often something positive to hold onto.

For instance, with breast cancers, I often tell my patients that while a cancer may be aggressive, it is sometimes the ‘aggressive types’ that respond very well to treatment by getting a complete pathological response, i.e. the tumour disappearing completely.

So rather than focusing solely on the severity of the disease, we as healthcare workers (HCWs) can begin to shift the conversation to highlight how, ‘with the right care, there is potential for healing’. It’s not about ignoring the facts; it’s about reframing them in a way that leaves room for optimism and action.

As highlighted from the beginning of this 54Days Of Cancer Advocacy, Africa, faces unique challenges in cancer care—limited resources, late diagnoses, and cultural barriers to treatment. But despite these obstacles, we’ve seen remarkable strides.

Communities are becoming more aware of early signs, HCWs are receiving specialized training, and innovative treatments are making their way to clinics. These developments give us reason to hope, not just for individual patients, but for the future of cancer care across the continent.

Hope is not passive. It is not simply waiting for things to get better. It is found in the resilience of patients who, despite their fears, walk into the clinic for their next round of treatment. It is found in the dedication of doctors and nurses who work tirelessly to ensure every patient receives the best possible care. And it is found in the quiet moments, when a patient feels heard, seen, and understood.

This Sunday, let’s take a moment to reflect on the power of hope. Not the kind that blinds us to reality, but the kind that grounds us, guiding us through the toughest days.

Because in cancer care, hope isn’t just a feeling—it’s a tool that helps us persevere, plan, and believe that even in the face of uncertainty, there is always a path forward.”

Source: Miriam Mutebi/LinkedIn

Miriam Mutebi is a Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and past president for Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

She is the co-founder of the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons. She is an avid supporter for the education and support for women, especially in surgery and she aims to provide mentorship for women in surgery and to improve women’s health and surgical care in Africa. She is currently pursuing a pilot’s license in order to extend breast care services to marginalized areas.