Elmari from The Hill is grateful about life after cancer scare

Elmari Fernandes (40) from The Hill is relieved there is no trace of cancer left in her body after she went through a difficult time when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (a breast cancer where the tumour cells lack estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and the HER2 protein) last year.

In January, she finished chemotherapy treatment and had surgery in March to remove the tumour bed and three lymph nodes. The removed lymph nodes and breast tissue was sent to pathology, which confirmed there was no trace of cancer left after chemotherapy and immune therapy because the treatment had killed it all.

She sincerely thanks everyone who stepped up and helped her through her journey.

The discovery

In September last year, she felt a painful lump in her breast. She waited a few days to see if it was due to her menstrual cycle.

“After a week my husband, Richard booked a mammogram for me at Hypelife in Brackenhurst. There the mammogram confirmed the lump and the doctor also measured it on an ultrasound. The doctor advised that I take the results to my GP. The GP was very concerned as he had known me since I was a little girl. He booked me for an urgent biopsy. I went for a biopsy at MediMix, and the results came back to confirm triple-negative breast cancer,” explained Elmari.

She said there are different kinds of breast cancer, some you can treat with hormone blockers however this one would not respond to it.

“I then went to see an oncologist in Rosebank where I started with chemo on October 15, 2024, a day before my 40th birthday. I did six cycles of very intense chemo. Each cycle was a combination of three different chemotherapy drugs every 21 days. I also did immune therapy which is an injection in your stomach the day after every chemo cycle,” she said.

My favourite part about being a survivor

“I don’t feel sick anymore and the intensity of chemo is something of the past. There were many side effects. I lost a lot of weight and was hospitalised for a week after the last chemo cycle because my immune system was unable to fight an infection. It is wonderful to wake up each day and feel more normal as the chemotherapy works out of my system and my body works to recover. I am thankful to know that I have the most intensive chemo behind me and I would never be given the same cocktail of cytotoxic drugs.”

How this experience changed her perspective on life

“My mother died in a car accident when I was six years old and I grew up knowing the brevity of life. I never believed I was guaranteed a long and healthy life.

“So when I got the cancer diagnosis it only changed for me the fact that in an accident you can die instantly, but when you are faced with illness you will be sick and you may suffer a lot.”

The most inspiring thing that happened in this journey

“I didn’t share my cancer diagnosis on social media, and at first only told my closest friends and family members. But there are now many people who are encouraging me and praying for me all over the world. Family members asked people from their churches to pray for me, people I don’t know and have never met. This was bigger than me. It was amazing that so many people were willing to encourage me and pray for me when I was in the hospital and felt very sick. I believe the prayers of many people helped me to recover quickly and that is a testament to the healing power of prayer and the encouragement of having a community to support you during difficult times.”

Staying focused and positive during recovery

“There were many days when it was difficult to remain positive during my treatment because usually in the case of triple-negative breast cancer, by the time a tumour is diagnosed, cancer has most likely spread to other areas, hence the intense chemo to kill all the cancer cells in various stages in your body. If your immune system is weak it’s easier to get cancer than when it is strong and your body can break down rogue cancer cells.

“Sometimes you do wonder whether it will ever come back and spread beyond the breast, but how will the worry help you to heal and recover? On my WhatsApp profile, there’s no picture of me but a status which says: One breath at a time. God was faithful to sustain me one breath at a time during my treatment. God gives you the grace and strength for each day. If you worry about tomorrow then you lose the time and peace you have today.”

How do you like to unwind and relax?

“I love quiet and peaceful living, to hear birds chirping, children playing (as we live next to a school) and thinking of my favourite music. I do house chores and take walks in the neighbourhood. I enjoy spending time with friends. ”

Best advice you received during this journey

“I have a good friend, Desiree Pillay, who encouraged me to read the Psalms in the Bible. Many friends sent me voice notes where they read the Psalms to me during my treatment. The chemo breaks you physically and emotionally, sometimes when you feel utter despair you don’t have words. But then you listen to the Psalms and you feel like you are not alone, these words are given by God and will give you strength. It pulled me through to know that even when things feel hopeless it is not the end.”

Thanking everyone who supported the family

“There are so many wonderful people who helped me, friends and family and many people who never met me. It is very hard to go through chemo and be unable to do things you normally do for your family. In the Bible is the story of Exodus 17 from verse 8, when God’s power and support from friends work together to win the battle.

There have been many friends who helped with meals, prayers, grocery deliveries, financial assistance for medical bills, and driving me to chemo appointments and scans, I had friends and family who coordinated to pick up my daughters from school and assisted financially with my daughters’ schooling, and friends who contributed financially to have a helper to clean the house. They stepped up to help me, and it meant so much to me to know I was being held up and supported while I fought to endure the treatment and live beyond the diagnosis of cancer. I am in awe of what God did through family, friends and friends of friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart for each one.”