WORLD Cancer Day was celebrated on February 4, but the stories of cancer warriors and survivors continue to shed light on the challenges faced by individuals living with the disease and those undergoing treatment.

Nokuthula Sutu, who is staying at the CANSA Mkhuhla Care Home in Umbilo while she undergoes treatment for breast cancer, told of how she had to travel from Matatiele in Eastern Cape to eThekwini in neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal for lifesaving treatment. The educator said her cancer journey began last year when she discovered a lump on a breast.

“I went to the doctor who ran tests that confirmed the lump that I found in my breast, in February last year, was indeed cancer. I was shocked and did not know how to feel after my diagnosis, but I knew that I had to get treatment to stop the cancer from growing,” said Sutu. “I went through two or three rounds of treatment, which were not successful. I was told that my cancer was aggressive and that it was spreading. My doctor in Matatiele had referred me to Kokstad for a mammogram, from there I ended up in eThekwini for chemotherapy treatment.”

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Sutu, who has to be away from her family while receiving treatment in KZN, stressed the importance of support from loved ones “who can sometimes be your strength”. She said, “I am lucky that I have family and friends’ support to get me through this battle with cancer. It is important to have people that love and care for you in your time of need. Despite my diagnosis and treatment, I am lucky that I have a loving home and work to go back to, which is something that not everybody has.”

This was also highlighted by this year’s theme for World Cancer Day which was celebrated under the banner of ‘United by Unique’. It recognised that everyone’s experience with cancer is unique, and that people have unique needs and perspectives. The theme also encouraged people to work together to reduce the burden of cancer, and to create a world where people are treated with compassion and empathy. With her unique journey and battle with cancer underway, Sutu encourages women to regularly check their breast for lumps.

She said, “That is how I found out I had cancer, by doing regular checks on my breast. Do not be scared of finding something, I am an example of how early detection can help. Today, I am sitting here with hope that I will get the help and treatment that I need to beat cancer. I have the belief and hope that I can survive cancer.”

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