In a historic leap for healthcare in Western Kenya, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has successfully pioneered a rapid diagnostic technique that allows surgeons to identify disease in real-time.

The procedure, known as intraoperative pathological assessment using imprint cytology, allows pathologists to create a “cellular fingerprint” by pressing fresh tissue onto a glass slide. Within minutes, while the patient is still on the operating table, doctors can determine if a tumor is cancerous, enabling immediate surgical decisions that previously took days or weeks of waiting.

This groundbreaking milestone was first realized this week, making JOOTRH the only facility in the region to offer the specialized service.

For 63-year-old Margarita Atieno Masiga, a peasant farmer and widow from Rarieda, Siaya County, this technology gave hope. Mrs. Masiga faced a daunting dual diagnosis of both cervical and breast cancer.“I told the doctors to take time off and think about what our next step would be,” she recalled, reflecting on the heavy silence that followed her diagnosis.

A multidisciplinary team of specialists—including Dr. Nyamohanga Marwa, Dr. Ng’ong’a Albert, Dr. Walong, Dr. Joan Mittow, and Dr. Nyamari—performed the complex surgery. By utilizing imprint cytology during a sentinel lymph node biopsy, the team was able to avoid unnecessary and extensive tissue removal. This precision reduces the risk of complications like lymphedema (severe swelling) and significantly improves patient recovery.

Mrs. Masiga underwent a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer two weeks ago, followed by a mastectomy and the specialized axillary surgery last Friday.

Margarita’s path to the operating theater was a gauntlet of obstacles. Despite being diligent with annual screenings, a lump appeared in her third year of testing. Her journey was further frustrated by medical strikes in Bondo and a broken CT scan machine in Siaya that stalled her progress.

With private medical bills proving insurmountable, she sought help at the JOOTRH oncology clinic. What she expected to be a routine clinical booking on April 21st turned into an immediate admission. Without hesitation, she called home to say she was ready for theater. “I went to meet doctors elsewhere, but the bill I couldn’t manage,” she said.

Cancer is a shadow that has long trailed Mrs. Masiga’s family; she has lost a brother and stepsister to the disease, while her sister is a breast cancer survivor. Despite the losses, she refuses to let fear dominate her home.

She insists her children remain in school and demands they see her “eating, talking, and walking” to draw strength from her. To her, cancer is “just a disease like any other,” met with a relentless positive attitude. As she recovers from two major surgeries performed within just seven days, Mrs. Masiga is now preparing for chemotherapy.

Her story is not just a medical success for JOOTRH, but a testament to the power of inner strength. Specialists at the hospital now look to grow this practice, ensuring more patients across Western Kenya can access world-class diagnostic support during surgery.