By A Correspondent- Legend in the medical field Dr Norleen T .M .Mbuwayesango has died.

Read the death notice:

“We sadly announce the death of a legend in the medical field Dr Norleen T .M .Mbuwayesango. She was wife to the famous Dr Mbuwayesango A Bothwell .

She succumbed to cancer yesterday afternoon.

Mourners are gathered in Westgate, Harare.

We publish the late Dr Mbuwayesango’s cancer journey which was published on June 10 2020 in Issues/ Pane Nyaya :

The Issues PaneNyaya #WCW for this week is an inspiration, a woman on a journey and a champion in our eyes.

This wife to Bothwell and mother of Tatenda and Shingai is confronting ‘head-on’ one the most feared, and life-threatening situations of our time – a cancer diagnosis.

Her name is Dr Noleen Tembani Munyandu-Mbuwayesango. On the morning of September 23, 2019, she found herself in a situation that she had never dreamt of or desired, a reality that she had always feared.

Driven by a conviction beyond her comprehension, she decided to self-examine her breasts as she took her shower. To her total alarm and shock, she observed a lump in one of her breasts.

Panic, fear, and despondency followed, as she shared the information with her husband and both being medical practitioners, immediately knew that it was breast cancer.

As they sat at their breakfast table that morning, mulling over the next steps, both were shuttered but knew they had to brace up to face their new reality even on the backdrop of knowledge on how deadly the disease could be and how difficult it could be to treat.

A few investigations later – various blood tests, CT scans, a Mammogram, MRI scan, bone scan and all the rigmarole – the cancer was placed at Stage IV. This stage meant that the cancer had spread to other parts of her body and was advanced. Noleen found herself stuck between being a doctor to other patients and suddenly a patient with a life-threatening condition- it was then that her daunting journey began…

A treatment plan was put in place where she would go through the steps of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and on 11 October 2019, the plan of treatment was operationalized.

The effects of chemotherapy immediately kicked in – diarrhoea, weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting, loss of hair, change of skin and nail colour, body discomforts to name but a few. Noleen became prone to infections and all sorts of negative effects ensued.

By the end of the fourth cycle of Chemotherapy, she had lost about 10 kilograms. According to her it was ‘terrible’ so much that she even considered the option of quitting, but her doctors encouraged her and adjusted her doses to help her pull through.

She has since finished chemotherapy, had surgery, and is now undergoing radiotherapy.

We crush on her today, because of the journey that she’s travelled– not just one of boldness, bravery, positivity and utter determination, but also a journey that has opened her eyes to the needs around cancer, and driven her to TAKE ACTION.

The gaps surrounding cancer treatment in Zimbabwe registered a new meaning to Noleen as she journeyed – the limited access to information, to treatment and to screening and knowledge became glaringly real. The number of cancer-related deaths that could have been derailed.

Today Noleen is pursuing addressing these needs and making a positive change. She is enacting the change she wants to see as has now made it her primary role, to ensure that breast cancer does not maintain an upper hand on Zimbabwean women.

In addition to writing a book documenting her journey with cancer to motivate others, through a Trust under registration she has pledged to work on mitigating breast health issues by improved awareness, screening, diagnoses, access to treatment and follow up on survivors.

Noleen represents the myriads of untold stories and battles with cancer. The tears cried in secret and the pain endured unattended. She represents the women who have lived, and those who succumbed.

Noleen represents hope and a nudge towards fighting on.

Issues PaneNyaya finds herself deeply inspired and could not help but crush on her.”