Sultana actress Winnie Bwire dies after cancer battle
Popular “Sultana” actress Winnie Ndubi Bwire has passed on after a long battle with cancer.
Her death was announced by the family on Thursday morning.
She succumbed while undergoing treatment in Turkey.
“It is with a heavy heart and humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce Winfred Bwire Ndubi lost her battle to cancer on 5th September 2024 while undergoing treatment in Turkey,” the family said.
They expressed their gratitude to all those who stood by the actress as she bravely fought against the disease.
“We thank you all for your overwhelming support, prayers and generous giving during her treatment. We will share more details in due course.”
Just a month ago on August 14, she had publicly appealed for financial support of Ksh 5 million to cover her treatment expenses in Turkey.
“If you can support me, I have nothing to give in return, but you will save my life. I didn’t want this video to be emotional. I wanted it to be filled with hope,” Bwire had pleaded through an emotional video that had been posted on her social media pages.
The actress said that her medicine was working well until she started having severe side effects.
“The medication has over 41 side effects, and you never know which one will hit. You experience some of them at different times, and it keeps changing,” she explained.
Bwire’s battle with cancer started over three years ago when she noticed swelling and discomfort under her armpits, initially believed to be a simple infection.
However, as the pain continued, she pursued further medical tests, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a rare type of cancer where the cancerous cells are confined inside a milk duct in the breast.
Bwire narrated that at first the doctor told her that there were no cancer cells but as the pain persisted she saw a gynecologist who detected cancer cells through a biopsy.
A PET scan was done and it showed that the cancer had metastasized to the brain, bones and other parts of her body. Her treatment focused mainly on brain cancer as she had trouble balancing and coordinating her body.
The actress stated that she had headaches all the time, vomited and couldn’t remember things. These symptoms were consistent with what the PET scan showed.
Her cancer journey was full of difficulties, and she stated that her illness was easy to deal with at first but it got much worse after she finished filming “Sultana”.
Winnie’s honesty about her illness was both touching and inspiring.
She shed light on the harsh reality of living with cancer and the stigma that often surrounds it. She was a symbol of bravery and strength and she inspired many people with her courage.
