12/10/2025
Male breast cancer survivor: Chola is among the one Percent males hit by the scourge
WHEN Chola Bweupe first heard the words โThis is cancer,โ his world fell silent. He had gone to the hospital for severe back pain โ the kind that reminded him of his old rugby days โ but he left with a diagnosis that would change his life forever.
Breasts cancer is a disease that most people associate with women. The World Health Organisation -WHO estimates that men make up only one percent of all breast cancer cases worldwide. For Chola, a 66-year-old Zambian, that one percent stopped being a statistic. It became his story.
Through Ellen Banda-Aaku but, and Zambian Cancer Society, TV Yatu learns how Chola learned he had breast cancer.
Born in Lusaka as the third child in a family of eight, Chola was named in recognition of his place in the birth order. His parents, Joseph and Lucy Bwuepe, raised him with discipline, faith, and a strong sense of purpose. He attended Kabulonga Boys Secondary School and later earned a place at the University of Zambia, where he studied law. His professional life was long and successful โ 22 years with Barclays Bank โnow ABSA, followed by work at NATSAVE and Focus Financial Services Limited.
But in 2021, that comfortable rhythm of life was interrupted. What began as persistent back pain led to tests โ and then a quiet conversation that shattered his peace.
โEven without a biopsy,โ the specialist said gently, โthis is cancer. The ni**le has collapsed.โ
The words hit him like a storm. He went home and slept for days, consumed by disbelief. โI couldnโt accept it,โ he recalls. โI kept thinking โ this canโt be happening to me.โ
But it was. And within days, he was in the operating theatre.
At Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital , surgeons performed a mastectomy, removing his left breast and six lymph nodes under his arm. The surgery lasted three long hours. When he awoke, he was in excruciating pain. For 11 days, he fought through sleepless nights and sharp agony, clinging to hope.
Biopsy results sent to India confirmed the diagnosis. What followed was six grueling months of chemotherapy at the Cancer Diseases Hospital U.T.H in Lusaka. The treatment took its toll. His hair fell out. His skin darkened. His nails turned black. The stiffness in his body made every movement a reminder of the battle raging inside him.
โI used to be strong and active,โ he says quietly. โSuddenly, I could barely recognize myself.โ
He was spared radiotherapy but placed on tamoxifen, a hormone therapy drug he still takes today.
Throughout his treatment, Chola often sat as the only man in crowded breast cancer clinics. Curious eyes followed him. Some whispered; others simply stared.
โPeople think only women get breast cancer,โ he says. โItโs a misconception. Men get it too โ and thatโs why we need to talk about it.โ
His recovery was not only physical โ it was deeply mental and emotional.
โWe live and die first in our minds,โ he reflects. โSo I trained my mind to stay positive. The body follows where the mind leads.โ
That resilience became his greatest strength. Today, Chola has turned his pain into purpose. He shares his journey openly โ on public platforms, at awareness events, and through advocacy work โ encouraging men to get screened and challenging the stigma surrounding male breast cancer.
โAt first, I worried about how people would react to my story,โ he admits. โI thought being a male breast cancer survivor might invite ridicule or pity. But Iโve experienced the opposite. People have shown me love, support, and admiration. Being open has given me a sense of triumph.โ
His bravery has earned him international recognition from the American Cancer Society Relay For Life . But for Chola, the greatest reward is simpler โ the chance to save lives through awareness.
October 11, 2025.
