After losing her mother to breast cancer in November 2010, Lizette van der Berg (54) never imagined that she would go on to fight that same battle.

“My mother had lived with a breast lump for five years before seeking medical attention because she was just too afraid to seek help,” explained Lizette.

She continued that, “By the time the cancer was diagnosed, it was already in Stage 4 and it had spread throughout her body. She passed away just two months later at the age of 65.”

Now, Lizette is sharing her story to encourage women to act early and never be afraid to seek help.

Lizette has lived in Newcastle since 1975.

She eventually met and married her husband, Brandt, here; and they welcomed and raised their two children.

She has had a happy life, filled with many memories…

However, in February last year, her life changed for the worse when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

Her diagnosis brought back the painful memories of losing her mother and her aunt after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

A promise to never walk same road

Determined not to follow the same path, Lizette made sure she went for her annual mammograms.

“I promised myself I would never walk the same road as they did,” she said.

Unfortunately, in March 2024, she was told she had numerous cysts in her breasts.

When she returned for another mammogram later that year, she was told it was too early for another screening.

“I returned again in January 2025, but was advised that mammograms were performed in 12-month intervals.”

So, the next day, Lizette decided to perform a breast self-examination for the first time.

“This was something I had never done before. It was during this examination that I discovered a lump in my left breast,” she said.

Lizette immediately made an appointment with her general practitioner (GP), who referred her for a sonar examination.

The results came back and confirmed there was a lump, which required a biopsy.

It was on National Cancer Day (February 4) that Lizette received the news…

She was diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts and then spreads into the surrounding breast tissue.

Her cancer was also HER2-positive, which is a protein that causes cancer cells to grow and divide more rapidly and can be considered a more aggressive form of cancer.

“When I received the results, it felt as though my whole world had been pulled out from underneath me,” she said.

“You always know death exists, but suddenly you are faced with your mortality,” she said.

Her husband, Brandt, became her ultimate source of strength.

“I remember telling him that I was scared. He simply told me that we would tackle the issue together when we knew what the way forward was.”

She also immediately reached out to a close friend who had also gone through a battle with breast cancer and was able to mentally and emotionally help prepare Lizette for what was to come.

“After the diagnosis, your mind starts playing games with you and you feel like you’re on a roller-coaster ride filled with different emotions and feelings. At that stage, it’s very difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Following a consultation with a specialist surgeon in Pretoria, Lizette underwent a bilateral mastectomy on February 18, 2025.

She had to wait six weeks for her wounds to heal before she started chemotherapy, completing six cycles in three-week intervals.

However, Lizette said that her treatment often needed to be delayed by a week, as her white blood cell count was too low, causing her to be admitted to hospital as a result of an infection.

Once she had completed her chemotherapy, she was required to continue with Herceptin treatment for the HER2-positive cancer for another six months, receiving treatment again in three-week intervals.

Lizette could not undergo radiation because she has a pacemaker.

“Throughout the whole process, I had to learn to adapt to the new me. Physically and emotionally, I had faced new challenges.

“The one thing that kept me going, though, was my faith and my family,” she said. “It is very difficult to stay positive on your difficult days, but sometimes you just need to make a mind shift, so I tried to keep my mind busy and not over-think everything.

“I am not the same person I was before; I am stronger, wiser and much more aware of what truly matters in life.”

When asked if there was anything she wishes she knew before her battle, Lizette simply said that not one person’s journey or experience is the same, so knowing wouldn’t have made a difference.

Lizette said her amazing support circle is what ultimately carried her through her most difficult days.

“It’s unbelievable what a simple WhatsApp message or phone call can do to lift you up when you’re having a bad day,” she said.

Her husband and mother-in-law stepped up and helped when she was physically unable to do tasks.

Her Lions family, colleagues and close friends also regularly checked in on her and motivated her throughout her journey, while Sister Heidi Thom from Palliative Care also visited her, offering support and resources to assist her healing process.

Lizette decided to shave her head after chemo caused her hair to start falling out, which sparked community support like she had never witnessed before.

Members of the O’Safari Golf group and the Ladysmith Lions Club also shaved their heads in solidarity with her.

There is still life after breast cancer

Lizette admitted that her outlook on life and her health has changed, and has made her more conscious about exercising more, eating healthier and getting those regular check-ups.

“I have been given a second chance at life, but there will always be a little cloud hanging over my head asking, ‘What if it comes back?’ However, having cancer also doesn’t mean you have to stop living. This journey tested my strength, my hope and my faith, but look at me – I am still standing and I appreciate life much more than I did before,” she said.

Her message to other women is to not ignore the changes in their body.

“The earlier you get it checked, the better.”

She also warns against relying on social media advice or unproven remedies instead of seeking proper professional medical care.

“Listen to your body, don’t ignore changes and never be scared to seek assistance.”

Lizette’s survival of breast cancer has given her a fresh perspective on life and the people in her life.

Her message is simple and straightforward: “A cancer diagnosis need not be the end of your story; it could merely be the beginning of a new chapter.”