Page 20 - Mangwanani Magazine - June2017

INTERNATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS’ DAY 4 JUNE

I AM A CANCER

By Sandy Wilemse

2017 is the year that I celebrate being a
10-year breast cancer survivor.

26 June 2007 was the day that my whole life did a 360 degree turn in a My support structure was fantastic, from the nurses, my sons’ school and
matter of seconds. It started as a normal morning and then I felt a lump in teachers, my friends and family, sons and husband. I never once felt alone
my breast while showering …. I immediately went cold and after prodding and embraced the love and support which helped carry me though the
and poking the lump for about 15 minutes …just to make sure it was real, journey. I remember one day laying outside in the sun a day after chemo
my gut instinct told me it was cancer. and my son came up to me just after I had finished vomiting and put his
hand on my forehead and said “Mom …you are going to be ok, this is just
I stil struggle to find the words to describe that feeling I felt …al that I do temporary.” He then took the bowl away and brought me a clean one and
remember was that whilst the water was warm, I was gripped in fear and went back inside to play.
the first thought that went through my mind was that I can’t die yet …I’m not
ready. My boys were 12 and 8 years old at the time and I couldn’t imagine Throughout my treatment and journey I tried as much as I could to stick to
not seeing them grow up. my daily routine. I wanted things to be normal. I didn’t want to see the look
of pity in people’s eyes. I had always been a strong and independent
I immediately made an appointment and had a mammogram and biopsy person and I promised myself that I wasn’t going to change because of
the same day and 2 days later my doctor said the words “You have cancer.
cancer “.
I realy do believe that feeling positive helps the healing process and I
My team at the East Rand Oncology centre were phenomenal and I knew I stayed positive and believed that I was going to be in in remission after
was in good hands. The nurses there alayed any fears and tried to make treatment and I was and stil am.
the experience as comfortable as they could. I included my boys in my
journey and they came with once to see what chemotherapy and My family and friends are my
radiation was. I think it helped them understand what it meant when I said heroes and they were with
mommy is going for her treatment. me during my cancer journey
and are stil here with me
The hardest part of my journey wasn’t the mastectomy, chemotherapy or today.
radiation, it was losing my hair, which I stil can’t understand. My oncologist
said ,2 weeks after my first chemo treatment my hair would fal out and I stil I pray to God each day
thought …no problem …. I can do this, I’l get a wig and wear a bandana. and thank him for blessing
my life and that I can
My hair was shoulder length and after a few days of seeing my hair fal out reflect on my journey
I decided to shave it off. It was such an emotional experience watching my and 10 years later
head being shaved …. I think that’s when reality set in. Up until that point celebrate being alive
nobody could see that I had cancer …. now without my hair and eyebrows every day and
…. I felt exposed and naked. The next day I went and chose a wig and spending time with my
loved my wig until my hair grew back. loved ones.

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