Breast cancer survivor shares her story
Due to some financial difficulty, it delayed van Wyk from having the needed biopsy but admitted that she was glad that she did not have the funds because it gave her time to come to terms with possible outcomes.
Emerald van Wyk who was born and bred in Eldorado Park is a breast cancer survivor with a goal to share her story and encourage other women.
Van Wyk is 49-years-old and has been eight months in remission and still remembers that horrible morning in July 2019 when she discovered a lump in her breast.
“I immediately contacted my General practitioner (GP) to set up an appointment for further investigation. It didn’t take him long to confirm my suspicion, he immediately referred me to the radiology department in Lenasia. I retrieved the results a week later and it was recommended that a biopsy be performed immediately. The news devastated me and I remember that it took me a couple of days to process,” said van Wyk.
Due to some financial difficulty, it delayed van Wyk from having the needed biopsy but admitted that she was glad that she did not have the funds because it gave her time to come to terms with possible outcomes.
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A friend by the name of Vanessa Goosen contacted van Wyk and said she should go and see Professor Carol Anne Benn at Helen Joseph Hospital, and after the consultation, van Wyk was referred to have the biopsy performed.
After weeks, van Wyk explained that she saw the professor and found that her right breast was malignant. The professor told her not stress as it was a slow growing cancer.
According to van Wyk, she was diagnosed on September 17 of 2019 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma stage 1.
“I was contacted and was told that will have a lumpectomy with reconstruction surgery followed by radiation. Prof Benn was going to perform the operation and Dr Barend the reconstruction surgery. My five-hour operation was performed on November 14, 2019. When I woke up the following day, I felt scared seeing all the machines that I was hooked up to. My operation was a bit more difficult as I am diabetic and played a critical part in the success of the operation,” explained van Wyk.
After spending 48 hours spent at Milpark Hospital, van Wyk healed for four weeks at home and started radiation. Van Wyk mentioned that she was not coping emotionally so she was referred to a psychologist.
“Every person’s cancer journey is unique. Fear is created by treatment associated with cancer like chemo-therapy and radiation. Your diagnosis is different and so will be your treatment and journey be. The most important thing is to get tested yearly and to perform self-breast examination. Early detection saves lives, I am living testimony of it,” added van Wyk.
Justin van Wyk, Lauren Olifant, Henry van Wyk, Mona Renecase, Anna-Marie van Vuuren, Monica Austen, Dr Marshinee Naidoo, Fotini Domnakis and Jenny Aspinal from the Wings of Hope are just the few people that van Wyk would like to thank.
“There was no history of breast cancer in my family and I intend on keeping it that way by advocating to family and friends to be proactive with taking care of themselves,” concluded van Wyk.
The survivor would like to encourage women to visit the Helen Joseph Hospital Breast Care Clinic if you feel any lumps or concerns with your beast. You can contact the breast clinic on 011 489 0130 for more information.
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