Fighting the ‘intruder’, breast cancer

The biggest battle in your life comes so unexpectedly that even having the best military training can never fully prepare you.

I Will Not Lose is a book that pens a descriptive and powerful journey of a military officer’s fight against breast cancer.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mmathapelo Maine was inspired to join the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) through the eyes of her friend.

She says her friend exuded strength and pride after they joined the army and the importance of defending your country. Following in her footsteps, Maine gained entry through her second application. The lieutenant felt the minute she donned that uniform she knew this was where she was meant to be and to serve.

Reaching so many highs in her military career in two decades, such as being the first female regimental commander in the Northern Cape she never thought her greatest battle wouldn’t be in the field but this training would assist her.

“Being in the SANDF helped me grow into a resilient character to deal with challenges, how to work with people and to make decisions on behalf of people and for the organisation.”

At first, delaying writing her experience of her “intruder” – breast cancer – Maine admits she wanted to do something to distract her from the chemotherapy and that her treatment was projected to end in Oct0ber 2020.

“I wanted to mention the outcome of my treatment. I was faithful that I would, but it was important to wait for the results.”

ALSO READ: Dense breast tissue signals higher risk for breast cancer

Writing her story as raw and deep as she can, Maine says his is not the first time cancer has taken something from her. Her father succumbed to lung cancer and the fears  and trepidations of her diagnosis would soon consume her.

Book, ‘I will Not Lose’ By Lieutenant Colonel Maine.

Just like many illnesses, early diagnosis save lives. Such it is for the lieutenant who was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, grade 3, which is the most aggressive type of cancer.

I will Not Lose is written out of determination, to never give up hope. The writer also tackles stereotypes of cancer being “rare” in black communities, how this is detrimental to breaking the stigma and fighting the “intruder”.

Excerpt:

“I will not strike when you are on guard!” This is a stance that had been taken by the intruder in my life. Only when I let my guard down, the unfavourable happened. For a month or two, I had neglected to do breast examinations and I stopped having thoughts about cancer and related illnesses. The intruder had encroached and I was not aware. On a particular morning in June 2019, I noticed a lump-like ident on my right breast as I stood before a mirror, applying lotion on my back. I sensed tremor and was certain that my imagination was not misplaced. Before I could feel it with my trembling hands, I saw it with my dazed eyes.

A little worry had set in but I tried very hard not to panic, as I wondered whether my worst fear was manifesting. I reported in sick and went for a check-up… Week one, two, three went by and I noticed that the lump was actually becoming bigger and harder. I had to report in sick again. With the assistance, if the radiographer at 1 Military Hospital, I got scheduled for a mammogram screening…

The silence in the room was as sharp as a power saw. It could cut through thick steel with perfect precision. At that moment, I was abroad a train of thought that swirled my emotions in all directions. The memories of losing my father weighed me down like a ton of bricks. They were very heavy and uncontrollable. Anxiety challenged my inner peace. ”

To purchase the book contact 0795016754.

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