WATCH: Young cancer warrior promises to make her mark
Young warrior Nganele Makhoba (14) is ready to take on the world after bravely defeating a rare cancer.
Nganele Makhoba (14) has conquered her long fight with the rare cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma.
Rhabdomyosarcoma affects muscle tissue, mostly in children and adolescents. It can occur anywhere in the body, but usually in the head and neck, arms and legs, and urinary and reproductive organs.
On July 3, she proudly marked the end of her treatment at Netcare Alberton Hospital’s ringing of the bell in the paediatric oncology unit.
Dr Tanya Schickerling of Netcare Alberton Hospital’s paediatric oncology unit said Nganele was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma last June and had a tumour on her face and the back of her throat.
The journey was a rocky experience for the youngster. She felt secluded and emotional because she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“Going through it wasn’t easy at all, and I felt very left out, as though no one could ever feel what I felt. I lost a lot of friends who never thought I would conquer it. They stopped believing in me, although some, like my family, kept the faith. Ringing the bell was exciting and quite emotional,” explained Nganele.
Moving forward, she will periodically visit the hospital for check-ups.
During the occasion, she said she was happy to know she could continue with her life and that nothing would stop her from achieving her goals.
Hope during difficult times
Her mother, Nomasonto Makhoba, said Nganele started her treatment last year and would frequently go in and out of the hospital until they finally reached this point.
“When this all started, it wasn’t easy, and she would continuously cry. We also took a hard knock because cancer is a scary disease. We showed her support, and her school was also supportive. But I’m glad she’s returning to her normal state,” she explained.
She also thanked Cupcakes of Hope and the hospital staff for their support.
At the bell ringing, Nganele was showered with several goodies and received a medal of honour from Schickerling.
She also had her hands full of gifts from Cupcakes of Hope.
Schickerling said: “I remember, one afternoon, she returned and cried so much. She was ready to give up but later stood up and continued her treatment. The last scan we did showed there was no tumour left at all. I remember losing her hair was hard for her, but we’re so grateful it’s finished.”
