Tzaneen woman celebrates life after beating breast cancer

TZANEEN – The 54-year-old Winnie Mahasha stands as a living testimony of strength and survival after bravely fighting and defeating one of the deadliest diseases, breast cancer.

Mahasha, from Tzaneen, discovered a lump in her breast back in 2000 when she was just 29 years old, but at the time, she did not realise it was cancer.

“I ignored it because it was not painful,” she recalled. “I thought it was something minor.”

Diagnosis brings fear and uncertainty

For more than a decade, she lived unaware of the silent danger growing inside her. It was only in 2013, after a conversation with her employer about breast cancer, that she decided to seek medical help.

“My boss told me her sister had died of breast cancer. That’s when I started to worry and went to Van Velden Hospital,” Mahasha said.

Doctors admitted her and later confirmed that she had breast cancer. “I cried when they told me; I didn’t understand how the disease worked, and I was sure I was going to die.”

Challenging treatment and recovery

She was then referred to Polokwane Hospital, where her treatment journey began. Mahasha underwent six months of chemotherapy, which came with difficult side effects.

“I started losing weight and my hair. My skin and nails turned black,” she explained.

In 2014, doctors performed a mastectomy to remove her right breast, followed by two weeks of radiation therapy. She was later prescribed medication to take for five years to help prevent the cancer from returning.

Winnie urges women to get screened

Now, 13 years later, Mahasha proudly celebrates life as a cancer survivor. She uses her experience to raise awareness and encourage early testing.

“Cancer is a silent killer because it doesn’t cause pain while it spreads slowly,” she warned. “I want to encourage everyone, especially women, to be vigilant, go for regular check-ups, and never ignore any changes in their bodies.”