‘Support helped me face challenges’
LUCINDA Johns is a Durban-based counselling psychologist, who found herself embarking on an unexpected journey with breast cancer 15 years ago.
“I was 32 years old and had an unusual lump in my left breast and there was a discharge. I recall reading about the symptoms and gathering information on breast cancer,” said Johns, now 47, of Sydenham.
“I went to the GP. The test results at the time of the discharge was clear. A week later, I asked for a second opinion from a different doctor and I also went to a surgeon.
“I was told I had to have a mastectomy,” Johns said.
She said she was shocked by the diagnosis, because there was no history of breast cancer in her family.
The support and encouragement from those around her, she added, helped her face the emotional challenges.
“I remember the surgeon saying the (mastectomy) operation was urgent. I told him I needed two days to prepare – not only emotionally but I also needed to prepare my family, the students I lectured to and colleagues. My diagnosis was a shock for them as well.”
After the surgery, she underwent radiation and adjuvant therapy (surgery followed by chemo or radiotherapy to help decrease the risk of the cancer recurring).
She recalled asking the oncologist if she could speak to other women around her age, who had the same or similar diagnosis.
“It was important for me to meet women who could share their journeys.”
Having spoken to a breast cancer survivor, Johns said she realised few women would have wanted to share these stories.
“It’s a diagnosis that comes with some stigma, fear and anxiety, and those were some of the emotions I had to make sense of.
“Speaking to someone created further support and this allowed me to make a decision around my treatment plan.”
Her journey, she said, opened her up to the challenges around breast cancer in South Africa.
“Within the South African context, some of the challenges we face as women are about early screening and accessibility to knowledge or cancer awareness, and having access to information.
“The other is access to screening and treatment for both women and men with breast cancer. Sometimes we forget that men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Another challenge, added Johns, who is in remission for 15 years, was having emotional support.
In 2010, Johns and other survivors – called the C-Sisters – published a resource guide for breast cancer.
“It was about the challenges we saw and we recognised, within the South African context and in our own personal journeys.
“A few of us wrote our stories. We also got oncologists and doctors to read the book to ensure the information was accurate. It was a wonderful adventure for all of us.”
A year later, having partnered with the Narrative Foundation, the book was translated into isiZulu.
They later expanded on the book, including chapters on sexuality and death, and how children, husbands and partners could manage the loss.
Johns is a PhD student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Her PhD, she said, was a self-reflective study on her breast cancer journey and how it influenced her personal and professional identities.
According to the World Health Organisation, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world in October, is aimed at creating awareness on early detection, treatment and palliative care.