March is Cancer Awareness Month, Odwa Mahlungulu, an intern at the Disability Rights Unit and a Public Relations Advanced Diploma student, interviews her sister Zimasa Mahlungulu, to share her personal journey of being a Cancer survivor.

When were you diagnosed and what is your diagnosis?

“I was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2007 and breast cancer in 2020.”

How did you feel when you were first diagnosed?

Honestly, I didn’t know how to feel or react because I didn’t understand what was going on, it started like a period that never stopped. I was thinking it was a period but it ended up lasting a whole month. Up until I collapsed because I over-bled. I woke up in a hospital after a three-day coma and I was told that I was diagnosed with cervical cancer which appeared as a mole pregnancy and that’s what caused my bleeding. I went for chemo and they planted a pot in my right breast where after a year I no longer had cancer and I never removed for over 10 years, then boom, I was told I have breast cancer and it needed to be removed. My heart sank and I couldn’t believe that I would lose something so precious and valuable on my body. I feel like breasts make a woman and I now I only have one breast.”

Who did you turn to for support?

“My family was my support system they were there every step of the way. I remember in 2009 when I went to a cancer survivor event with my family it was a good feeling. Without my family I would not have had the strength to continue. I remember when I was told that I will never be able to have children, then in 2016 I was blessed with a baby boy, I didn’t believe it but it shows that miracles do happen. In 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I told myself that I’m fighting for my child, I want to see him grow and be something in life.”

What (if any) additional outlets could you have turned to that you do not feel you had at the time?

“There were cancer support groups and I used to read a lot of magazines just to gain more knowledge of the illness I had. I won’t lie in 2020 I turned to alcohol and I smoked a lot thinking It would numb the pain up until I figured no, let me stop being selfish and think about my life and my child.”

How did you choose to share your diagnosis with your children?

“In 2007 I did not have a child, but in 2020 I told him mommy was sick and that I will fight for us to live a long life together.”

Do you have any words of wisdom to offer other young adult cancer survivor moms and dads?

“Life is the greatest gift by God and if you have received so many chances like how I did, it teaches me to appreciate life even more. Never give up, have a positive mind set and always look forward to what life has in store for you.”

What kind of things did you do to distract yourself when you were going through treatments, either at home or at the hospital, or both?

“I used to pray, take walks along the beach and I was always around my family for support.”

What was your biggest parenting challenge faced during cancer treatment and into survivorship?

“After removing my breast I could not hold or hug my child because I was in pain. I used to have fatigue and headaches every time I came back from chemotherapy.”

Where are you now in your journey with cancer?

“I’m currently going for chemotherapy for another year and I was given medication that I will take for 10 years. I am also employed and living the best life possible because you only live once.”

What advice would you give any young adult facing cancer or any other life-threatening illness?

“You only live once make the best out of it. Never give up fight until you are cancer free. Eat healthy exercise and take all your supplements.”

Pictured: Cancer Awareness infographic. (cansa.org.za/cancer-stories-of-hope-cansa/)

Written by Odwa Mahlungulu