Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
SHAMVA – A 36-year-old woman from Shamva is battling a rare condition that has left her with excessively long breasts.
The mother of two, Marble Manyaura is appealing for medical assistance as the debilitating breast growth disorder has severely impacted her health and quality of life.
At first glance, her appearance may be mistaken for a botched breast enlargement procedure.
However, this is far from the truth.
Manyaura’s breasts started growing uncontrollably when she was 22 and have not stopped since.
The condition has left her nearly incapacitated as the breasts bleed profusely, almost reaching down to her knees when they get swollen.
Getting the huge burden off her chest has, however, been virtually impossible as she does not have the financial muscle to seek the necessary medical assistance.
Visibly distraught and unable to articulate her thoughts properly, Manyaura narrated her sad ordeal.
“I have been in this condition for years now. The breasts keep growing and it is now difficult for me to take care of the family since my husband is idle. I have been in pain for too long, and when the breasts get swollen, they bleed. My two children are three years and 10 months old, but I have not been able to breastfeed them due to this condition.”
The illness has taken its toll on the elder sister, Mrs Ottilia Kachanzi, who has since adopted Manyaura’s family into her rural home in Seke.
“I am now taking care of the whole family, including her children. It is difficult, we need baby formula, food, and clothes and I also have my own family to support,” Mrs Kachanzi said.
According to medical experts, gigantomastia also known as breast hypertrophy or macromastia is a rare, non-cancerous condition that causes excessive growth of the female breasts which calls for medical interventions such as breast reduction surgery and hormonal therapies.
