Celebrate Life – Breast Cancer Survivors

There are some topics we should never tire of reading or informing ourselves about — and breast cancer is one of them. Four brave women share their encounters

PATRONELLA MODILLANE, 38, HOME ECONOMIST

“In 2015, I felt some discomfort in my left breast and visited the local clinic. I was then referred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for examinations where nothing was discovered until January this year. A stereotactic mammogram showed a malignant tumour. My family, especially my husband, late dad and friends were distraught on my behalf but remained supportive. They never ceased to reassure me all would be okay — I drew strength from their words. My two children, aged 17 and 10, were also very helpful and didn’t seem too worried about my new scar, which I fell in love with. Fear and reality kicked in the day before my mastectomy.

Due to the size of my tumour, I was advised to remove my entire breast and, depending on the outcome of the surgery, there’d be a possibility of undergoing chemotherapy and radiation afterwards. Luckily, the latter didn’t happen as the surgery was a success. I remember wishing breast cancer patients could receive pre-counselling instead of the devastating news being blurted out as though it was just a minor cold.

The mastectomy went well and I’ve been put on tamoxifen for ten years, a drug that helps decrease the chances of the cancer returning. Cancer is a very lonely disease, but I’m so glad to be walking this journey with my family and support group, Pink Winners.

This journey has taught me… There’s no way you can go through this experience and come out unchanged. God says in His word, ‘I will never cause pain without allowing something new born.’ I now appreciate little things and take challenges as they come.”

KANANELO LEBELO, 32, MEMBER CONSULTANT

“Around July last year, I discovered this massive mass in my left breast. Not wanting to acknowledge it could be something life-threatening, I ignored it but at the back of my mind, I was quite fearful. Around October, I had a mammogram followed by a scan. I watched the face of the lady who did my scan go blank, followed by a question about breast cancer history in my family. Right there and then, my gut told me something was wrong! I had to get a lumpectomy done. A few days later, we were in the surgeon’s office. As soon as he mentioned the words ‘breast cancer’, both my husband and I sat up and said, ‘What?’ as though our reaction would change what we’d just heard. I started bawling —I imagined leaving my sixyear-old and three-year-old behind and not being around to celebrate their milestones. Devastating as that was, I soon got into ‘let’s keep it moving’ mode. It started with being comfortable talking and joking about my condition when I could sense people walked on eggshells around me.

The emotional strain wasn’t too much because my husband became my outlet — he’d always offer the kind of support I needed. I went to see Dr Carol-Ann Benn who runs The Breast Cancer Centre of Excellence at Milpark Hospital. My cancer was described as Stage 3 because it had spread to my lymph nodes. I started chemotherapy from January to July 2018. Three weeks post chemo, I then had a double mastectomy followed by six weeks of radiation. I remember coming out of surgery thinking ‘These breasts are really small,’ but this was honestly my only moment of vanity (chuckles).

This journey has taught me… That our bodies speak to us, and to remain positive. We attract what we give out and if you continue to love yourself and others, all that radiation will be returned to you tenfold.”

THANDO PATO, 41, WRITER

“I’d always suspected I’d have breast cancer — three of my aunts lost their lives to this condition but nothing can ever prepare you for being told you have cancer. My one aunt pegged it down to witchcraft, while the other two believed it was an ancestral calling. When I eventually went for my mammogram, the doctors discovered two lumps the size of those round lucky packet sweets. I immediately went in for a biopsy, which was the most traumatic thing I’d ever endured. After confirmation, my gynae sent me to The Breast Cancer Centre of Excellence at Milpark Hospital, run by Dr Carol-Ann Benn, and they ran more tests to determine if the cancer had spread to other parts of my body. Fortunately it hadn’t. I opted for a double masectomy with implants because I was certain I didn’t want to ever go through something similar in the future. I opted for light chemotherapy for six months, and haven’t had any horrid side effects usually associated with this treatment. Because I carry the BRCA2 breast cancer gene, it meant there was a high chance the cancer could’ve moved to the other breast, and I’m also at risk of ovarian cancer. I tried to remain positive for my family but in June, I went through a four-week period where I struggled to leave the house and would cry every day. I had to constantly reassure my mother I wasn’t dying because cancer, for her, meant death.

This journey has taught me… Mourning the loss of my breasts wasn’t an easy thing in the beginning. It’s taken about five months to get used to my new breasts. I’m also embracing the fact I’m going to be an oncology patient for the rest of my life — and this motivates me to live in the present.”

LEBOGANG LESUFI, 41, CHIEF PERSONNEL OFFICER

“The first person I remembered when I was diagnosed with breast cancer was a telesales consultant who once called to sell me dreaded disease insurance. I thought signing up for the cover would be tantamount to inviting one of those grave conditions into my life. I discovered a lump in my left breast in May 2016. Following a mammogram, doctors said the breast scan had showed a lump they thought looked cancerous, but they still needed to confirm if it was. I first went in for a lumpectomy where they removed the tumour, breast tissue and some glands in my armpit. After this procedure, I was notified my results were indeed positive and referred to an oncologist at The Little Company of Mary Hospital in Groenkloof, Pretoria who immediately put me on chemotherapy. No amount of explaining could ever make one fully grasp the side effects of chemotherapy. There’d be times when I’d call my mother to tell her I just couldn’t take chemotherapy anymore. My family, fiancé, Pastor and friends held my hand through the journey. My Christian faith also stood me in good stead. I made contact with other women who’d overcome cancer and that gave me a lot of hope. I was also driven to help other breast cancer patients with accepting and walking their journey armed with hope.

This journey has taught me…I’m learning to live as though there’s no tomorrow. I was cleared in January 2017, and self-love is, now, a big priority in my life. I go for checkups every three months and even though I still fear the breast cancer returning, I’m learning to bargain with these negative emotions. I also trust that God will keep me cancer free.”