Four years after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer while pregnant, Esther Achieng Odhiambo is cancer-free and enjoying the simple moments she once feared she might never experience—watching her child grow, laugh and thrive.

Today, the 34-year-old mother from Kodiaga Prison, Kisumu County, looks back on a journey defined by courage, sacrifice and unwavering family support. While cancer presented immense physical and emotional challenges, one of her greatest struggles was balancing treatment with the demands of caring for a newborn baby.

Her story began in 2020 when she noticed a small swelling in her breast. Assuming it would disappear on its own, she paid little attention to it. However, during an antenatal clinic visit in 2021, a doctor noticed the swelling and referred her to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) for further evaluation.

At eight months pregnant, Esther underwent a biopsy. The results confirmed stage three breast cancer.

“The news was overwhelming,” she recalls. “I was pregnant and preparing to welcome my baby, then suddenly I was being told I had cancer.”

Despite the fear and uncertainty, Esther found reassurance in her doctors, who explained that treatment could begin after delivery. Equally important was the unwavering support of her husband, who stood by her side from the moment of diagnosis.

On November 9, 2021, Esther delivered a healthy baby. Just one week later, she reported to the Oncology Centre, where doctors advised urgent surgery. The procedure was scheduled for December 9.

While many mothers spend the first weeks after childbirth bonding with their newborns, Esther spent hers preparing for breast cancer surgery. Her baby was barely a month old and still breastfeeding, yet treatment could not wait. Arrangements had to be made for the infant to be brought to the hospital every morning and evening for feeding while she recovered.

The challenges intensified when she began chemotherapy a month later. Doctors advised her to stop breastfeeding completely. Her second-born child had to transition to infant formula, a difficult adjustment that added emotional and financial strain to an already challenging situation.

“It was heartbreaking,” Esther recalls. “As a mother, you want to provide everything your child needs, but treatment had to come first.”

As Esther attended treatment sessions and battled the side effects of chemotherapy, her husband stepped in to shoulder much of the responsibility at home. He cared for both mother and child, ensuring that the family remained strong throughout the ordeal. Other family members also rallied around her, providing practical help, encouragement and emotional support whenever she needed it.

Like many cancer patients, Esther also faced misconceptions about treatment. Some people warned her against carrying her baby or spending time with family members while undergoing chemotherapy. Believing these myths, she began isolating herself whenever she returned home from treatment, worried that she might somehow harm her loved ones.

Despite the emotional and physical toll, Esther completed eight sessions of chemotherapy before being referred to Nakuru for 21 sessions of radiotherapy. Once again, she had to spend extended periods away from her young child, making the separation particularly difficult.

Through it all, her husband’s unwavering support and her family’s encouragement kept her focused on recovery.

After completing treatment, Esther returned to JOOTRH for follow-up care. Doctors recommended a CT scan to assess her progress. When the results were reviewed in 2022, she received the news she had been hoping for—there was no evidence of cancer.

Today, four years later, Esther remains cancer-free and no longer requires medication. Her story, which she previously shared during a cancer survivors’ forum at JOOTRH, continues to inspire others facing similar battles.

“I thank God and my husband for their unwavering support,” she says.

As National Cancer Survivors Month is observed this June, Esther’s experience serves as a powerful reminder that cancer is not fought by patients alone. Behind every survivor is often a network of caregivers, spouses, family members and healthcare workers whose support makes recovery possible.

For Esther, being cancer-free means more than surviving a disease. It means being present for the moments she once feared she would miss and embracing the gift of motherhood with renewed gratitude and hope.