Renowned senior consultant psychiatrist, Dr Margaret Mungherera, has succumbed to colon cancer.
Dr Mungherera died in a hospital in India this morning where she was flown on Thursday last week after spending a week at Nsambya hospital.
Her sister, Lydia Mungherera, confirmed the death, saying they are yet to make arrangements to transport her body back to Uganda. Mungherera served as the president of the World Medical Association from October 2013 until October 2014. She also has served as the president of Uganda Medical Association.
From 1992 until 2000, she worked as a registrar at Butabika national referral hospital and was responsible for forensic services. From 2000 until 2003, she was a consultant psychiatrist at Mulago national referral hospital and was responsible for psychiatric emergency services.
She has also been the clinical head of the Directorate of Medical Services (Departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry) at the Mulago hospital since 2012. Mungherera retired from civil service effective June 30, 2015 after 31 years of continuous service.
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Colon cancer is a type of cancer that occurs after the uncontrolled growth of cells of the large intestine. The cancer cells then invade and damage healthy tissue that is near the tumour, causing many complications, according to Medical News Today, an online medical publication.
The cancer cells are believed to develop from risk factors such as diabetes and advanced age among others. It presents with diarrhea or constipation, changes in stool consistency, rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, pain, cramps, or gas in the abdomen, weakness or fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
According to Medical News Today, the most common options for colon cancer treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery involves the removal of the part of the colon containing the cancer cells as well as the marginal area close to the cancer.