Lydia, South Africa

I woke up one morning end of November 2021 with a pain in my chest. When I touched the area where the pain was, I realized it was in my breast and I felt a lump. I waited a few more days and went for an ultrasound. I didn't have medical aid and was referred to a government breast clinic for a mammogram and biopsy. The clinic was already closed for December. I went to the breast clinic in January 2022 and consulted a Dr who gave me a referral letter to go book a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. I had the procedures done early February 2022 and was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 3 weeks later. The cancer had already spread from my left breast to the lymph nodes in my left armpit. I thought I was busy dying and felt very scared, until I got counseling from an oncology Patient Navigator and counselor right after I received my diagnosis. I was then ready to begin the big fight.

Financial stress was very challenging for me, to get to the hospital for chemo every 3 weeks for 6 months, to go for different scans during my treatment, as I wasn't working. I felt like I was a huge burden to my family, but I got through it. Then I had a mastectomy in November 2022 with lymp node removal. I had to go for radiation but the hospital put me on a waiting list, as there was a backlog of 18 months. 6 months later the cancer was back in the lymph nodes in my armpit again.. It was discovered after having a routine mammogram and ultrasound and then a biopsy again. I had to start treatment all over again. This time intensive chemo therapy weekly, and another surgery to remove the lymph nodes affected by cancer.

The Breast Health Foundation has been there for me 24/7 right through my journey. I had support from my family and friends but these pink angels from the Breast Health Foundation all had breast cancer in the past, and understood what I was going through, my fears and terrible side-effects of chemo therapy.

The healthcare system failed me in providing me with radiation therapy treatment when I was supposed to receive it. Only after I became part of a court case and a voice for thousands of cancer patients, doing articles for newspapers, being on radio stations and TV programs, did I eventually receive radiation treatment in 2024, after waiting for 17 months

My motto in life now is, and I love sharing it with other cancer patients: You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have