Breast cancer survivor and activist Lebogang Lesufi is an inspiration not only for her own family but the entire Tembisa community.
Even though her story has never been shared and told on media platforms hard enough, her journey and resilience in the fight to beat cancer has earned her popularity and great respect in the community.
Lesufi has for the first time since she was diagnosed with breast cancer opened up to The Tembisan and shared her story and life’s journey.
“The first person I remembered when I was diagnosed with breast cancer was a telesales consultant who once called to sell me dread disease insurance. I thought signing up for the cover would be tantamount to inviting one of those grave conditions into my life,” she said.
Lesufi says she first discovered a lump on her left breast in May 2016.
“Following a mammogram, doctors said the breast scan had showed a lump they thought looked cancerous, but they still needed to confirm if it was or not. I first went in for a lumpectomy, where they removed the tumour, breast tissue and some glands in my armpit. After this procedure, I was notified my results were indeed positive and referred to an oncologist at a hospital in Pretoria, who immediately put me on chemotherapy,” said Lesufi.
She said no amount of explaining could ever make one fully grasp the side effects of chemotherapy.
“There’d be times when I’d call my mother to tell her I just couldn’t take chemotherapy anymore.
“But my family, fiancé, pastor and friends all held my hand through the journey and I soldiered on,” she said.
She points out that her Christian faith has also kept her strong. She made contact with other women who’d overcome cancer and that, she said, gave her hope.
“I was also driven to help other breast cancer patients with accepting and walking their journey armed with hope.
“This journey has taught me to learn to live as though there’s no tomorrow. Self-love is, now, a big priority in my life,” said Lesufi.
She was finally cleared on January 2017.
“I go for check-ups every three months and even though I still fear the breast cancer returning, I’m learning to bargain with these negative emotions. I also trust that God will keep me cancer-free,” she said.
Lesufi has since established her own foundation, Kutwadi Restoration, which focuses on cancer awareness programmes.
On October 19, through her foundation, Lesufi will host a breast cancer awareness and fun walk at the Moses Molekwa Art Centre, next to Makhulong Stadium, at 8am.
“Many people, especially from the black communities, believe cancer is a sickness that affects white people only, and this is where this foundation comes in. We want to educate our people about cancer and other domestic-violence related matters,” said Lesufi.
