Aunty Rebecca

Popularly known as Aunty Rebecca, 69-year-old Zambian Cancer Society volunteer, peer educator and counsellor, Mrs Rebecca Siambwati, knows first-hand what it is to like to live with two chronic diseases. In 1999, she tested positive for HIV and has been on Anti-Retroviral Therapy since 2000.

Aunty Rebecca first went for cervical cancer screening to show herself as an example to the people she was educating on HIV/AIDS and cancer screening in her community. A LEEP procedure (a method that uses electric current passed through a thin wire loop to remove abnormal tissue) was carried out. The result revealed that she had stage 2b cervical cancer.

She states that due to the stigma, myths and misconceptions about cervical cancer some of her friends and relatives distanced themselves from her because they believed cervical cancer was contagious. Despite the discrimination and isolation she persevered. Aunty Rebecca’s treatment was successful, and she has been cancer free since 2010.