Elo Mapelu

Not every delayed breast cancer diagnosis is a result of someone ignoring the signs. 🔹️Sometimes, the person noticed the change but was afraid of what it might mean. 🔹️Sometimes, they wanted to see a doctor but couldn’t afford the consultation, transport or tests. 🔹️Sometimes, the nearest facility was too far away. Or they visited a health facility but faced long waiting times, limited services or delays in getting answers. 🔹️And sometimes, stigma, misinformation, fear of surgery or the possibility of a cancer diagnosis made it difficult to take that first step. These barriers are different, but they can lead to the same outcome: delayed diagnosis. This is why breast cancer awareness must go beyond telling people to check their breasts. We must also address the psychological, financial, geographical and healthcare system barriers that prevent people from seeking timely care. At Henzo Kenya, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to seek assessment when they notice a change in their breasts. Know your normal. Pay attention to changes. Seek medical assessment when something is different. And as a society, let’s work towards making that next step possible. The World Health Organization’s goal is for more than 60% of invasive breast cancers to be diagnosed at Stage I or II. Achieving this requires more than awareness. It requires accessible services, timely diagnosis, affordable care and support. Because early detection is not just about knowing what to do. It’s also about making sure people can do it. 💗 What barriers do you think we need to address most urgently to make early breast cancer diagnosis possible for more people? #HenzoKenya #BreastCancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #AccessToCare #HealthEquity – at Nairobi, Kenya

Over the weekend, people came together for Global Relay for Life Kenya 2026 to celebrate survivors, honour loved ones, remember those we've lost and stand together against cancer. It was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when people unite around a shared cause. But beyond the relay, the screenings, the stories and the moments of solidarity is a much bigger reality. Cancer care doesn't end when an event does. It continues in the need for early detection, access to treatment, support for caregivers, reliable information and communities where people feel less alone. At Henzo Kenya, we know that meaningful change requires more than awareness days. It requires sustained action, stronger support systems and a collective commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer. We're grateful to everyone who showed up, participated and helped make this movement possible. Now, let's carry that spirit beyond the weekend. @HENZOKENYA #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #RelayForLifeKenya #CancerAwareness #AccessToCare #TogetherAgainstCancer – at Nairobi, Kenya

CLL Horizons 2026 | Barcelona 🧡 Powerful panel today on Global CLL Science Today: What Innovation Looks Like in High-, Middle-, and Low-Resource Settings. Experts and advocates from around the world — including voices from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East — came together to discuss one critical reality: the science is advancing rapidly, but access is still not equal. Innovation only matters if it reaches every patient, regardless of where they live. Strength in Science. Power in Community. This is what real progress looks like. #CLLHZ26 #CLLHorizons2026 #CLLAN #CLL #AccessToCare #PatientAdvocacy #HealthEquity @HENZOKENYA @MwakichakoBecky – at Nairobi, Kenya

Telling patients stories, and combining efforts in advocacy, helps make MPN care a bit more accessible! Such efforts need to be augmented and supported, to ensure patients in LMICs have a fair shot at life! #MPNHZ26 @HENZOKENYA @kenconetwork @CCan_org @NCIKenya @CancerProgramKE – at Nairobi, Kenya

#MPNHZ26 Australia, Asia & Africa break out session. Discussing collaboration, challenges and fundraising. @HENZOKENYA – at Nairobi, Kenya

Thrilled to follow updates from the 11th MPN Horizons Conference (#MPNHZ26) in Paris! 🇫🇷 @HENZOKENYA – at Nairobi, Kenya

Breast cancer survivors aren’t just recipients of care. They’re part of the solution. 💗 There is something powerful about hearing from someone who has walked a road you are only beginning to navigate. A breast cancer diagnosis can bring fear, uncertainty, and questions about treatment, recovery, and what the future holds. Medical professionals provide essential treatment and guidance. But hearing from someone who has experienced breast cancer first-hand can offer another kind of support: the reassurance that you are not alone. When breast cancer survivors share their experiences, they can help others: 💗 Feel understood rather than isolated. 💗 Find the courage to ask questions and seek support. 💗 Navigate the emotional and practical realities of breast cancer treatment. 💗 Discover peer support and connect with people who understand their experiences. Peer support does not replace medical care. It complements it by creating space for shared understanding, encouragement, and connection. Breast cancer survivors also have valuable insights that can help healthcare providers and support organizations better understand patients’ needs. Their voices deserve to be heard when we talk about breast cancer awareness, treatment, recovery, and survivorship. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s remember that survivors are not just people we support. They are also people we can learn from. Let’s create more spaces where breast cancer survivors can share their stories, support others, and help shape more compassionate, patient-centered care. 💗 Because no one should have to navigate breast cancer feeling alone. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BreastCancerSurvivorship #PeerSupport #PatientCenteredCare #HenzoKenya – at Nairobi, Kenya

Breast cancer is not a women's-only disease. It is far less common in men, but men can develop breast cancer too. According to WHO, approximately 0.5–1% of breast cancers occur in men. During @themaxfndn's recent webinar, @iamodhis shared an important observation: He has seen how a man living with breast cancer sharing his experience and encouraging others to seek care helped other men take symptoms and screening seriously. Sometimes, seeing someone like you go through something makes it easier to believe: "This could happen to me too." And that matters. Because when we repeatedly describe breast cancer as something that only affects women, some men may not recognize that changes in their breast or chest area deserve medical attention. Breast cancer in men is rare. Rare does not mean impossible. Men should also pay attention to unusual changes and seek medical advice when something doesn't feel or look right. And perhaps we need more men who are willing to talk about their experiences. Because sharing a story can do more than inspire. It can help someone seek care. Let's make breast cancer conversations inclusive of everyone who can be affected. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BreastCancer #MensHealth #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #HenzoKenya – at Nairobi, Kenya

5 things you can do this Breast Cancer Awareness Month October doesn’t have to end with you wearing pink. Let it move you to action. 🎀 Here are 5 things you can do: 1.Know your normal. Pay attention to how your breasts normally look and feel, and notice changes. 2.Don’t ignore unusual changes. A new lump, thickening, skin or nipple change, or unusual discharge deserves medical attention. 3.Know your risk. Learn about your family history and discuss your individual risk with a healthcare professional. 4.Learn. Don’t rely on WhatsApp medicine. Get your breast cancer information from reliable health professionals and trusted sources. 5.Support someone affected by breast cancer. Check in. Listen. Offer practical help. Accompany them when you can. Because awareness isn’t just about knowing. It’s about what we do with what we know. 🎀 Every story is unique. Every journey matters. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BreastCancerAwareness #EveryStoryMatters #EveryJourneyMatters @HENZOKENYA – at Nairobi, Kenya

When was the last time you REALLY looked at your breasts? Not just a quick glance in the mirror. I mean really looked. 🔖How do they normally look? 🔖How do they feel? 🔖What does your skin normally look like? 🔖What does your nipple and areola normally look like? 🔖Do they look different when your arms are down compared with when they’re raised? Knowing your normal can help you notice what isn’t. Breast awareness isn’t about becoming an expert at diagnosing yourself. It’s about becoming familiar with your own body. Take a moment to look, touch and feel. 🎀 Look for changes in: 📍The size or shape of your breast 📍The skin, including dimpling, puckering, redness or unusual changes 📍The nipple or areola 📍Any new swelling or visible change And feel for: 📍A new lump or thickening in the breast 📍A change around the underarm 📍Anything that feels noticeably different from what is normal for you You don’t need to panic every time you notice a change. Most breast lumps are not cancer. But a new or unusual change should not simply be ignored. Talk to a healthcare professional and have it assessed. If you menstruate, WHO’s breast-health guidance suggests choosing a time when your breasts are less tender, such as several days after your period. If you no longer menstruate, choose a consistent time each month. Your breasts don’t have to look like anyone else’s. Know your normal. Because when you know your normal, You are more likely to notice a change. 🎀 Every story is unique. Every journey matters. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastHealth #KnowYourNormal #EarlyDetection #EveryStoryMatters #EveryJourneyMatters #HenzoKenya – at Nairobi, Kenya

CML is more than a diagnosis. It is a journey that continues long after the day someone hears those words. On Saturday, 26 September 2026, we’ll be coming together to mark World CML Day here in Nairobi. This year’s theme is: “From Access to Monitoring: 25 Years Forward for Every CML Patient.” It’s an opportunity to bring patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and partners together to talk about what matters across the CML journey—from access to treatment and care to ongoing monitoring and support. 📅 Saturday, 26 September 2026 📍 The Nairobi Hospital Conference Center 🕘 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM If you’re living with CML, supporting someone who is, working in cancer care, or simply want to learn more, you’re welcome to join us. Let’s keep creating spaces where people affected by CML have access to information, support, and the care they need. See you tomorrow @thenairobihosp . 💙🧡 #WorldCMLDay #CML #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth #HenzoKenya #CMLAwareness