A Brakpan mom undergoing treatment for cancer is looking forward to attending a fundraising walk in her honour. Porter Street resident Angelique Smith was unable to attend the walk last year due to ill health.
The 31-year-old, affectionately known as Liekie, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer after discovering a small lump in her breast last February.
The cancer has since spread and Angelique is now wheelchair-bound. The family does not have medical aid and last year’s walk was held to raise funds to help pay for her medical expenses.
It was held on her birthday while she was gravely ill in hospital. Her loved ones were extremely concerned about her and the walk was also held to show their support and to cheer her up.
Angelique told the Brakpan Herald the lump was initially diagnosed as a fibroma (non-cancerous growth or tumour).
“I was told it was nothing to worry about but over a month it had grown and I went for a second opinion,” she said.
“I then went for all sorts of tests and scans, mammograms and biopsies. I got the diagnosis and immediately started treatment.”
A few months later, Angelique started experiencing intense pain in her lower back. Visits to different doctors revealed the cancer had spread to her spine and bones. On October 26, last year, Angelique lost mobility in her legs.
“I then started radiation for my back and stayed in hospital for two weeks,” she said.
Angelique receives treatment at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“I had radiation on my spine and then my breast. I then had a growth on my chest under my neck and started radiation for that. It’s been never-ending radiation, chemotherapy and pills,” she explained.
She shared she has good and bad days. She is supplementing her treatment with natural remedies and also attends physiotherapy, which she enjoys as it helps her to relax.
“I’ve been a little bit sick this week and have been in a lot of pain, but I feel blessed,” she said.
Angelique is a firm believer in a positive attitude and feels this has helped her fight the disease. She has regained some movement in her legs despite a neurologist telling her otherwise.
“I was told I’ll never walk again or move my legs, but look,” she said, while shifting her legs to demonstrate.
“I’m a miracle. You have to see the positive. If you get negative, then it affects you.”
She is thankful to her family, especially her husband Quintin (35), children Haley (13) and Zanco (4) and step-children, Neveah (14) and Cassidy (12).
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Her parents, extended family members and friends have also been extremely supportive.
“If it wasn’t for God and my family, I don’t know. I have so much support and I have no words,” she said.
While grateful for the support, Angelique states it is something she had difficulty accepting in the beginning.
“This has been life-changing. I was always busy and did everything on my own. I baked all the kids’ birthday cakes and things like that. And you take it for granted. It was difficult to let others help,” she said.
“I had to learn to rely on others. If I have any advise for anyone going through this, it is to appreciate the people around you.”
Angelique’s diagnosis also saw her having to give up her office job in order to focus on her health. Quintin is the sole breadwinner but is always on hand to help Angelique. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Angelique stressed the importance of self-examination.
“Women and men should check themselves regularly,” she said.
“It is also important that if you do find something, to have it checked as soon as possible.
“A lot of people are scared it will be bad news, and I felt the same, but you have to do it.”
Community members are invited to join the fundraiser, Walk By Faith – One Year Reunion, on November 5, which is Angelique’s birthday.
It will be held from 09:00 at Presidents Park, 92 Paul Kruger Road in Springs (next to Horse and Hound).
Registration starts at 07:00. The entrance is R100 for adults and R50 for children.
“I will definitely be attending this one. I’m going for chemo on November 1 but I know I will feel well and I really want to go,” added Angelique.
Her sister-in-law Lorraine Birch said each contribution towards Angelique’s medical expenses makes a difference.
“She is the strongest person I know and needs to be celebrated,” said Lorraine.
For more information about the walk, Lorraine may be contacted on 071 251 0362.
