Five times unlucky

In the last 14 years, Zanele Mkhwanazi, has heard the words, “You have cancer,” not once, not twice, but five times.

In 2002, she had a complete mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She was shattered by the news but relieved, after undergoing chemotherapy, to hear that she was, “all clear.”

In 2006, Zanele discovered a lump at the site of her operation and a biopsy revealed that the cancer had returned. She underwent her second surgery, and, this time, she needed radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy. A breast implant in 2010, returned some of Zanele’s self-confidence.

In 2012, a medical investigation into a crippling pain Zanele was experiencing in her abdomen uncovered ovarian cancer. This meant a hysterectomy and six more months of chemotherapy for Zanele who had to also come to terms with the fact that she would not be able to have any more children.

“When I first heard that I had cancer in 2002, I cried very hard all the way home from the doctor’s surgery. This time, when my doctor made a joke about how I must love to come back to see him, I had to laugh. It was then that I considered that maybe God meant for me to go through this so that I would be in a position to help others who suffer from cancer,” said Zanele.

During a routine doctor’s visit in the same year, Zanele was told that white spots were discovered on the lining of her stomach, where the cancer had started to spread. “In order to treat this, my oncologist recommended a special brand of chemotherapy that needed to be imported. We had to have permission from the Minister of Health to have it brought into the country and before it could be administered I was warned that severe blackening of the skin and nails, and bloating would be some of the side-effects I would have to endure while on the treatment,” explains Zanele.

She continued, “I remained positive. My husband, members of my church, my neighbours and my family were so supportive and encouraging, I knew I had to be strong, for them. I knew I couldn’t let them down. I had to fight, for them.”

The treatment was successful, but in 2014, Zanele began experiencing severe pain behind her breast implant. Her oncologist insisted that some pain at the site of the implant was perfectly normal, but after insisting that the implant be removed, Zanele found out that the cancer had returned  and had been growing rapidly behind the implant.

“If I hadn’t insisted on removing the implant, the cancer might have been discovered only when it was too late,” she said.

Zanele has been on another course of chemotherapy since her cancer returned in 2014 and will undergo her last chemotherapy session tomorrow (Friday).

She has had to resign from her position as a teacher at a special needs school in order to focus on her recovery.

“I have endured the nausea and all the other side-effects. It’s been a long, difficult journey. When you think of cancer, you think of death, and I was convinced that I was going to die… But, after living with cancer for 14 years, I have hope that I am going to survive this,” concludes Zanele.

“My cancer journey has changed me a lot. It has taught me that you cannot fight any battle on your own. You need support from other people, even if support comes in the form of your small child’s concern. I now want to support other cancer patients who may not be as lucky as I was to have so many loving people around me.

“My last birthday fell on a Sunday and I had been for chemo the previous Friday, so I did not want to go to church, but my pastor convinced me to go. When I got there, they had prepared a big cake and the congregation had brought presents. Mr Mthethwa, who is in charge, seated me at the front of the church and told me that they had seen me come through so much with a smile on my face, and that my strength has taught them that, even when times are hard, they can pull through.

“I had never felt more special.”

The Vryheid Herald team salutes the strength and courage of all cancer survivors today, World Cancer Day!