For breast cancer survivors, completing treatment does not always mean the end of the emotional journey, with fear, changes to their bodies, and the challenge of rediscovering themselves often continuing long after diagnosis.
Three breast cancer survivors shared their experiences at an awareness event hosted by Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town on Thursday, October 22.
Held under the theme Whole again: body, self and the journey beyond breast cancer, the event brought together survivors to reflect on the physical and emotional challenges of navigating life during and after cancer treatment.
For Ntombi Moyo, her journey began with changes she noticed while moisturising herself in front of a mirror. She noticed that her left nipple was retracting and that her breast felt heavier than the other.
Initially, she dismissed the changes, believing that no two breasts were the same. However, after noticing dimpling and further nipple withdrawal, she realised something was wrong and sought medical attention.
Moyo, who said she had no family history of cancer, recalled the shock of receiving her suspected diagnosis in 2024, shortly after turning 40.
“I was mourning the fact that my life is gone right in front of my eyes,” she said, describing the emotional impact of the news.
For Carol Naicker, who has been on her cancer journey for seven years, the experience brought significant physical changes, including undergoing a double mastectomy.
Naicker spoke about learning to accept her body after surgery, encouraging other survivors not to allow the loss or removal of their breasts to affect their sense of self-worth.
“I look at my scars, and I say, you are a beautiful woman,” she said.
A mother of three, Naicker also emphasised the importance of faith and medical support throughout the cancer journey.
“Medicine is there for a reason. Your faith is there for a reason. Work with the two,” she said.
Michaela Herman’s experience highlighted the uncertainty and fear that can accompany a cancer diagnosis, particularly for women with young children.
After initially receiving an all-clear ultrasound following the birth of her son, Herman continued to feel that something was wrong. Further investigations eventually revealed two breast cancer subtypes: triple-negative and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Her treatment included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a double mastectomy, lymph node surgery, radiation and breast reconstruction.
She recalled being particularly frightened before treatment began, when she did not know what the future held or whether she would be able to watch her son grow up.
“I was, in a sense, grieving a life that I hadn’t actually lost, and so I focused on living,” she said.
Herman said the experience changed how she viewed her body, developing compassion for it as it carried her through treatment and recovery.
“My body was the place where something had gone wrong, and it was also the place where healing needed to happen,” she said.
Dr Britta Dedekind, a general surgeon with a special interest in breast cancer surgery at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, said the event was a success and that she felt privileged to be part of the women’s care journeys.
She said organising the event was always stressful, particularly in the lead-up, when there was uncertainty about how many people would attend and whether the content and speakers would be well received.
However, she valued the environment created for patients to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, even when those contributions had not been planned.
Dedekind said the event also provided an opportunity for information-sharing, new contacts and the building of relationships.
Her work extends beyond surgery, with Dedekind working closely with a range of specialists to provide comprehensive care for breast cancer patients. She also leads a weekly multidisciplinary team meeting at the hospital, where patients’ cases are discussed.
The survivors’ accounts highlighted that the journey beyond breast cancer involves more than medical treatment, with emotional healing, body acceptance, and support playing an important role in learning to live beyond diagnosis.