“Take care of yourself, talk to your doctor and get your body examined.” These are some of the words shared by breast and bone cancer survivor Gwen Janse van Rensburg (62), who has been fighting breast cancer for the past 16 years.
In South Africa, one in 28 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. This has remained the most common type of cancer among South African women.
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Advertiser spoke to Janse van Rensburg, who is an activist for breast cancer awareness and has continued to help other women deal with issues of cancer.
Janse van Rensburg was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2004, a few days after her father’s death.
“I noticed I had a lump between my breasts in the middle and I could feel a thick little bump, but I thought it was caused by the wire of the bra. My friend suggested we go and see the doctor, but I was a bit sceptical because I have never heard of cancer and because no one in my family had cancer,” she said.
According to the Sunward Park resident, the day she decided to go to the doctor she was sent for tests and biopsy.
After being diagnosed, she was sent to a surgeon and was referred to an oncologist who decided what treatment would be best for her.
“During treatment, I had to undergo one month of chemotherapy to reduce the lump, then the lumpectomy operation, which was followed by another five months of chemotherapy. I had 24 radiation therapies and throughout the radiations my heart was weak. During chemotherapy I felt like I was actually dying. I lost my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes,” Janse van Rensburg said.
She explained cancer has four stages.
“Stage one means that the cancer is still small and is only in one area. In stage two and three, the cancer is larger and has grown into nearby tissues or lymph nodes. The last stage means the cancer has spread to other parts of your body,” she said.
The 62-year-old said cancer is like a flu, everyone is now affected. Whereas back in the days it wasn’t as common as it is now.
She said although cancer awareness campaigns are still being carried out everywhere, some people are still ignorant.
“Some people are still not taking cancer seriously. It is important to look out for symptoms such as lumps in your body, dizziness, headaches, sleeping a lot and vomiting. If anyone is experiencing these symptoms they should visit the doctor before it’s too late,” she said.
She said if she can be sponsored with a vehicle, it will help make her work easier as she will visit affected families and shed more light on cancer.
Losing her husband to cancer
Janse van Rensburg, who has two boys who are now aged 35 and 41, said throughout the years she has been a support structure for many people who are affected by cancer but the death of her husband shattered her.
“My husband died during lockdown after being diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. We didn’t even know he had cancer because there were no signs. His death came as a shock because everything happened so fast,” she said.
She advises people to write down a list of questions when going to see a doctor so they don’t forget some of the questions they have about cancer.
Champions Cancer Support Group
Janse van Rensburg and Myrtle Bell run a cancer support group in Sunward Park which has about 40 members.
Before the lockdown was implemented in March, they used to gather at Trinity Community Church on Cresta Road every second Saturday of the month from 2.30pm to 4pm.
According to Janse van Rensburg, they haven’t seen each other since due to the lockdown but they are planning a get-together in November.
The Champions Cancer Support Group can be reached on 084 817 6572 or 084 206 7288.
Other cancer support groups in Boksburg are the Reiger Park Support Group, which can be contacted on 073 2146 692.
• Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (BISSA) urges women to regularly self-examine and have an annual mammogram from the age of 40.
According to Prof Jackie Smilg, chairperson of BISSA, which is a sub-specialty group of the Radiological Society of South Africa, breast cancer affects all ages, races and socio-economic circumstances.
“As frightening as a cancer diagnosis is, the good news is that modern medical advances and early screening and diagnosis result in more patients surviving and beating cancer with less aggressive and invasive treatment. The need for early and accurate detection simply cannot be over-emphasised. Early breast cancer detection reduces death, extends life expectancy and improves life quality, and early detection through mammography also enables less extensive surgery, fewer mastectomies and less frequent or aggressive chemotherapy,” Smilg said.
Meanwhile, the City of Ekurhuleni’s health facilities offer cancer screening services such as:
• Pap smears – screening test for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.
• Breast examinations and guide on how to do self-breast examinations.
• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) – a finger-prick blood test to help detect prostate abnormalities.
• Information on cancer warning signs for adults and children.
Also Read: SPAR supports breast cancer survivors with generous donation
Also Read: Walk in Reiger Park pays tribute to cancer survivors
