Tsakani – Breast cancer patient Sibongile Khoza (46) hopes her story will inspire others to take action and get tested.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the mother of two shared her roller-coaster experience with the illness.
She was officially diagnosed in 2011.
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“I had such beautiful breasts, they were the best part of my body. Now, imagine losing something so profound to you. It was devastating.
“It was in February when the doctor confirmed I had stage three breast cancer,” she explained.
Khoza experienced a nipple discharge for several years after she had stopped breastfeeding her first born, who was born in 1997.
“A milky discharge would come out every time I touched my breast. I didn’t pay much attention to it as it wasn’t painful and
I thought it had to do with breast milk.
“This was until my right breast started to turn green and I started experiencing excruciating back pain. I could also feel a lump,” she said.
She had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation.
“I stopped going out and didn’t want to socialise with people anymore. I was constantly being admitted to hospital, started losing my hair and lost weight drastically.
“I didn’t have an appetite and was constantly vomiting and had to take a bunch of pills.
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I had to implement healthy eating habits and avoid spicy foods and acidic beverages,” she explained.
Khoza added she is thankful to her sons for being so supportive throughout her ordeal, which saw the removal of both of her breasts as the cancer spread.
“My maternal grandmother had breast cancer and my paternal grandfather had prostate cancer, but despite knowing this, I just didn’t think I would one day have cancer.
“It is of the utmost importance to test, especially if there is a history of cancer within the family. People need to get tested regardless of age as cancer doesn’t discriminate.
“I had to accept the situation but I made a pledge to fight for the sake of my children,” said Khoza.
In 2019, she was rediagnosed and had to undergo a second operation on her right breast.
She joined support groups which helped her to pick up the pieces and get on with her life.
“Not having my breasts has affected how I conduct my romantic relationships because it is hard to open yourself up for love or allowing other people to get close to you,” she added.
Khoza is still receiving treatment and has to go for checkups every six months.
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