Survival Through Strength

Its estimated that one in every 28 South African women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re honoured to share the inspiring stories of women who have won the battle against breast cancer and celebrated their survival.

- Shannon Manuel

HENRIETTA VAN KRAMBERG

Several dates in my life stand out – like my fascination with birthdays, especially my own! And Wednesday 18 June 2008, also known as the worst day of my life. It was the day that my son, Imani, graduated to heaven. He was two years, one month and three days old. He suffered from meningitis.

Then, Thursday 26 October 2010 at 2.10pm – not the worst day of my life, but a close second. First came the clinical examination by a Pink Drive nurse, then a referral to an oncologist who sent me for tests. Results from the bone and breast care clinic confirmed that the sample taken from my left breast was malignant. I needed a breast surgeon – a referred male doctor who stated, “Mastectomies, chemotherapy and forget about having babies!” I went for a different opinion. Three months of consultations and three opinions later, I landed up at Netcare Breast Care Centre of Excellence at Netcare Milpark Hospital on a Saturday afternoon. Here I met Dr Carol-Ann Benn (now professor) who, during our very first consult, presented me with options. All I wanted was another baby, “So freeze your eggs,” she told me.

Carol-Ann explained the test results. They diagnosed me with oestrogen receptor-positive non-invasive breast cancer at 37 years old – the production of oestrogen in my body was feeding the cancer and carrying a baby (or having my period) could be fatal. During New Year celebrations, I was mentally planning for the operation. The competent team at Milpark Breast Cancer Centre performed a sentinel node biopsy on Monday 3 January 2011. Four weeks later, I agreed to a mastectomy of my left breast. I had five operations and six months of chemo over two years and almost R300 000 in medical bills in the first year. In September 2011, they declared me cancer-free.