Senegalese women support each other through breast cancer
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In Senegal, women diagnosed with breast cancer are finding support through the Kinsiba association in Dakar.
Many Senegalese patients lack access to the psychological and social care common in other countries. Kinsiba organizes activities like henna sessions and boxing classes to help women regain confidence and fight isolation. Fatoumata Sané received henna treatments shortly before a mastectomy, finding respite from the stress of chemotherapy and a sense of community with other women.
Salimata Sarr, a cancer survivor who experienced a recurrence, said the association’s care helps her feel like a woman again after treatments affected her physical appearance. Kinsiba’s founder, Dienaba Konaté, started the organization after seeing the comprehensive care available to her loved ones in France, which is not standard in Senegal.
Konaté hopes to expand Kinsiba’s services to provide psychosocial support to all cancer patients in the country, recognizing that the financial and emotional burdens of the disease can be overwhelming. The women share messages and help each other cope with the challenges of their illness.
