Bold and Brave – Ouma Mamatela on surviving breast cancer

The breast cancer awareness fun walk in Kelvin on October 13 presented community members with the opportunity to learn first-hand from breast cancer survivors about their journey to overcoming the disease.

Read more: Kelvin residents show their hearts by walking for breast cancer awareness at the HHF fun walk

Ouma Mamatela, who works closely with Kelvin resident Louise Turner, shared her journey as a breast cancer survivor. Mamatela reflected on when she first realised that she had breast cancer, and how the Breast Health Foundation came into her life as a foundation of guardian angels.

“I was attending a function where we were dancing a lot. When I got home and took off my bra, I realised that my breast was heavy,” said Mamatela. “When I got to the doctor, they said it was very serious, and that we needed to do the biopsy immediately. I went through chemotherapy for eight months.”

This was in 2015. Mamatela recalled not knowing where to go, or whom to turn to for information, which is when the Breast Health Foundation came into her life.

“They sit you down and clearly articulate what’s going to happen in terms of treatment – and what to expect when dealing with the side-effects of treatment,” Mamatela explained. “It’s very important to have support when you’re going through this journey. They gave the support which was needed.”

Getting through the chemotherapy process wasn’t an easy path for Mamatela to walk.

“Look, dealing with the side effects was very aggressive on my body; I lost a lot of weight. I think I weighed about 40kg at the time,” she remembered. “I dealt with all the side effects that you can think of when you’re on chemotherapy. I lost my appetite, I was fatigued, and vomiting.”

Although chemotherapy did help Mamatela, she eventually still had to go in for surgery.

Also read: Reach for Recovery share latest project to help survivors of breast cancer

She explained about the three types of surgeries that can take place when you have breast cancer: A lumpectomy: where they open the breast and remove the place where the cells are sitting, and they close it up, a mastectomy: where they remove the whole breast, and a double mastectomy: where they remove both breasts. “I did a double mastectomy. Both,” she said.

Radiation followed her double mastectomy procedure, following which Mamatela was offered reconstructive surgery to implant her with permanent breast prostheses.

Mamatela explained that it was a personal choice to remove her other breast as well. Although she knows that there are a lot of women who choose to live with a single breast, Mamatela decided to rather have them both removed, and then to opt for temporary prosthetic breasts.

“So, after doing a mastectomy, or double mastectomy, there are bras that have pockets in them: The Breast Health Foundation makes these [temporary prosthetic breasts], which you insert in the bra,” Mamatela shared jovially. “You can decide on the day if you want to wear a B, C, or even an E size.”

Mamatela concluded by welcoming anyone who is interested in gaining support through their personal breast cancer survival journey, or looking to learn more about breast cancer, to contact the Breast Health Foundation to find out what they need to learn.

“We do community education at schools, churches, and in corporate,” Mamatela closed. “Invite us, and we’ll be there to give education.”

Additional references: www.breastcancernow.org

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