Local cancer survivor tells her story of resilience

Mariska Schultz (27) is celebrating International Cancer Survivors Month by sharing her story of resilience.

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At 15, doctors diagnosed her with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which she overcame with sheer determination.

“As any teenager would, I was uncertain about this disease. I could see from the tears and fear in my parents’ eyes that it was not good.

“At 15, one has rarely heard about the big C, never mind chemo- and radiation therapy,” she said.

Growing up, they often referred to her as ‘the girl with cancer’.

Through her partnership with the Cansa TLC initiative, supporting youth diagnosed with cancer, Mariska explained such a programme would have empowered her to handle the stresses, family and emotional aspects of this disease.

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She said stares and concerned comments followed her everywhere, especially when her hair started falling out and the effects of the chemo- and radiation therapy were visible.

“For me, losing my hair was one of the hardest things I had to endure, and as a teenager, children can be mean. I remember a school learner hugged me and said, ‘Oh no, now I will get cancer’.

“I was horrified, but the truth is teenagers don’t know how to deal with such a serious disease.”

She said being diagnosed with cancer caused her to lose a lot of friends as she was not in school for days and later weeks at a time.

Her white blood count was often not high enough and would require injections that would lead to sore legs.

“It was a lonely year but also a blessed one, as many people around us reached out to my parents to help them financially and emotionally.

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My journey continued for four years. I did the first round of chemo- and radiation therapy. I was in remission for a year, and then a scan picked up cancer cells again.

I started chemo and radiation again, but this time in a more advanced setting, meaning a stronger and different dose of cancer.

This time, I didn’t lose my hair and was overjoyed that I met some amazing young people around the same age, which helped a lot.

Unfortunately, I also lost two of my friends during this time,” she stated.

Following the back and forth with the treatment, she had to do a bone marrow transplant when she was 18 years old.

Throughout the years battling cancer, she tried to keep up with schoolwork and could write her matric exams.

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“My mother, family, and friends were by my side through everything, and I can honestly say that I was blessed with some of the best friends.

“When I went to university, things looked better, though I still had to go for my yearly scan. I still get scared every time I go, but life is a lot better.”

She said sometimes it is hard for her to recall some memories during those four years.

“It is amazing how our brains process trauma and help us be resilient.

But sometimes I smell something or hear a certain song, and I am right back in that space where I previously heard it.

“For example, my mother doesn’t wear the perfume she used to when I got chemo, because my brain connects it to that moment in our lives.”

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Her advice to other youngsters battling cancer is to remember cancer does not define us, it is merely something that happens to us.

“We become strong, empathetic, emotionally intelligent adults that still struggle with everyday things but have overcome so much already.

“We also have to remember that our parents, friends, and family also have some trauma from this experience, because they fear for us and the outcome is mostly out of their hands.

“One day at a time, don’t fret too much about tomorrow, but get through today in good health,” she said.

Mariska currently works as a qualified dietician.

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