DR. CATHERINE MASITSA OPENS UP ABOUT FATHER’S 5-YEAR BATTLE WITH PROSTATE CANCER

Reality TV star Dr. Catherine Masitsa, popularly known as Dr. C from The Real Housewives of Nairobi, has talked about her father’s five-year battle with prostate cancer. 

Speaking candidly in an exclusive interview with Cheptoek Boyo on the Buzz Central Podcast, Dr. C highlighted the importance of early detection, vigilance, and the unique bond between fathers and daughters.

Dr. C revealed that her father made a cameo appearance on the show and expressed her commitment to keeping him involved in her life. “He did make a cameo on the show, and for as long as he’s alive, he’ll always be there. If there’s a season three, he will be there,” she said.

Reflecting on her father’s journey, she shared, “We were really lucky; we caught it at a good time. Even after he went through chemotherapy, he still looked like a strong person. You couldn’t even tell. He’s doing very well right now. We checked, and he’s completely clear. We just do checkups to see if there’s any resurgence. We really thank God for that.”

In 2017, Dr. C’s father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a disease she emphasised is particularly prevalent among African men. “As long as you’re a man and you’re African, just know your chances are extremely high. You just need to carry the African genes, and you need to be a man to know that your chances are really high of getting prostate cancer. So vigilance and checking are very important,” she urged.

Her father underwent surgery and chemotherapy under the care of Dr. Nyongesa at Texas Medical Clinic. “It was quite aggressive, but we were so lucky. It had not spread; it was still localized. It’s been more than five years now, and it’s not a death sentence,” Dr. C explained.

Dr. C also spoke about the cultural barriers that often prevent open conversations about health between fathers and their children, particularly daughters. “I think girls need to really get close to their fathers, and we women need to encourage our husbands and fathers to be vigilant. Men always think, ‘No, we’re strong,’ but they need to go for checkups every year,” she advised.

She opened up on how her relationship with her father evolved during his illness. “In African tradition, there are taboo topics you don’t talk about. Eventually, my father and I just had to become friends. We needed to talk about these things. He needed to tell me, ‘Where does it hurt?’”

Dr. C also challenged traditional beliefs about the value of sons versus daughters. “In African tradition, it’s like you must have boys, but actually, it turns out it’s quite an asset to have daughters. Ask them the questions: Can they pee? Are they struggling in any way? I was so lucky. He was with me at the time when he developed a complication, but no one was actually telling me.”