To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 51-year-old professional nurse Trosca Makula from Jabulani Dumane Community Healthcare Centre in Ekurhuleni shared her courageous journey of survival and hope.

Her story challenges long-held myths that cancer is an ethnic/racial-specific disease or purely hereditary.

For Makula, this was not the case. She was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer despite having no family history.

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Makula’s journey began when she felt a sharp pain in her left breast.

She told GCN during a 5km walk campaign aimed at raising awareness around breast cancer and mental health, in Germiston on October 29, that she began to examine herself, but did not feel any lump.

“When the pain persisted, I went to the doctor. After a mammogram and biopsy, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Makula.

To her shock and devastation, she still remembers the day as clear as a picture.

“I can still vividly remember the day,” she emphasised, recalling April 2, 2022.

“All I could think about was death. I did not believe I could survive. I worried about my teenage daughter and how she would cope.

“As a healthcare worker, the diagnosis also gave me a new perspective. It helped me better understand how patients feel when they are told they have a chronic illness and must take lifelong treatment,” she explains.

With family, spiritual, and psychological support, Makula quickly began to accept her diagnosis.

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She underwent a mastectomy surgery on her left breast, followed by chemotherapy from August 2022 to January 2023.
She remembers how terrible and severe the side effects were.

“During recovery, I had to rely entirely on my daughter for care. She helped me with everything, from bathing to my daily needs,” she shares.

“I had severe constipation, joint pain, and loss of taste.”

After chemotherapy, Makula began hormone therapy with Zoladex injections from January 2024 to March 2025, administered every three months.

“The side effects were rough, but I pushed through. I am now in the final stage of oral therapy. I take a tablet daily and will continue for five years,” said Makula.

Although she has not yet been declared cancer-free, Makula says she continues to make progress and reflects on how the treatment has impacted her life.

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“My hair no longer grows as thick, and my eyebrows and eyelashes have become thinner, but these are constant reminders of all I have been through. Despite the changes, I wear my battle scars with pride. A symbol of my strength and survival,” said Makula.

She emphasises the importance of early detection and treatment in improving the chances of survival, sharing a message of faith and resilience.

“I strongly believe I would not have made it this far without God. To anyone who has just been diagnosed or is still battling cancer, put your trust in God and adhere to your treatment.

“Most importantly, do not hesitate to go see a doctor for early detection. Acceptance is also key; it is the first step toward strength and recovery. To our loved ones, please support us; your support plays a vital role in our healing,” said Makula.