Lowveld High’s Natacha Bouwer’s journey with cancer strengthens her resolve
Bouwer said that the most important thing she has learned is that if you want to do something, do it.
MBOMBELA – “You never know how strong you are until you have to be.” This has become Natacha Bouwer’s mantra after she was diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago.
The Lowveld High School (LHS) marketing officer’s well-known locks have been shorn off and she appeared winded as she let me into her flat at the school. Her journey with cancer started in June and the prospect was a terrifying one.
“I went in for a sonar on June 30 that turned into a mammogram and then a biopsy. It was very traumatic; I was there for about four hours and when I received my results, I was completely traumatised,” she said.
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Bouwer was diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) cancer and was not prepared for the onslaught on her body.
“I was in shock for about a week or so. I thought to myself, ‘Is it something I did to myself or is it my lifestyle? Could I have prevented this?'”
It turned out that the cancer was genetic and there was nothing she could have done to escape it.
On the advice of friends, Bouwer acted quickly and consulted a specialist in Johannesburg.
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“It was a great idea. She had been recommended to me on numerous occasions and she told me a bit more about the cancer. She was actually excited when the tests revealed that I was hormone negative.
“She told me that there was a cure for it and that she had been on the original team that had been researching HER-2 cancer. So they’ve actually developed a treatment that targets this specifically,” she continued.
What lay ahead for Bouwer was a battery of tests and chemotherapy sessions with its slew of side-effects.
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“The first time I went for treatment, I received a double dose of Herceptin with all the other medication. I had to go through about six or seven drips, which was not nice.
“I had the worst heart palpitations, it felt like my heart was racing constantly, even if I just laid down. I could see it pumping in my chest. You get nauseous, your stomach is completely messed up. There are so many things you can’t eat and your sense of taste is limited to saltiness. You get sores on your tongue and experience hair loss.
“I was shedding everywhere, so I decided to just shave it all off,” she explained.
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For Bouwer, possibly the worst thing to contend with is the constant fatigue after chemotherapy sessions. She said her network of friends and family is there to support her, and she has good and bad days.
“All my friends check up on me constantly. They don’t like that I am alone. They also understand when I do not want visitors because I do tend to get a little moody. You try and manage it, but you have your good days and your not-so-good days,” she commented.
Bouwer extended her thanks to her grandparents, whom she said have been extremely supportive. Although she remains upbeat due to the excellent care she has received, the question, what if the treatment does not work, inevitably crosses her mind.
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She has been working from home during Covid-19 and thanked the staff at LHS for making this option available.
“Work has also been amazing. They have been so supportive and are constantly checking up on me and allowing me to work from home. Because you have no immune system with chemotherapy, you’re not even allowed to pick up a slight cold. It puts the rest of your treatment at risk. Because if you’re sick, the next treatment cannot be administered.”
What lies ahead is four chemotherapy cycles every three weeks and radiation therapy that have given her a new outlook on life.
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“It is an eye-opening experience because you learn that there are others facing similar issues. The most important thing I’ve learned is that if you want to do something, do it.
“Don’t ask anyone’s permission. You regret not doing the things you did not have the guts to do,” she concluded.
