Belinda Ellor turns her cancer battle into a story of hope
Belinda Ellor shares her inspiring journey from cancer to remission.
When you think of strength, determination, resilience and bravery, the name Belinda Ellor comes to mind.
She has braved every kind of storm there is, including the death of her youngest son (Justin) at the age of 10 after a short, brutal battle with cancer, and then eventually being diagnosed with cancer herself.
Despite not knowing how she was going to come out at the other end, Belinda never once stopped fighting.
She eventually came out victorious, having beaten cancer and living in remission ever since.
Belinda is a true born-and-raised Newcastillian. She is a proud mother who absolutely adores her children with all her heart.
She is also the very proud grandmother of young Baily (10), whom she idolises.
Belinda believes she has been able to overcome every obstacle placed in her path because of her children and the unbreakable bonds they share with each other.
“My daughter is just the most beautiful soul you will ever meet. She is a model, a modelling school owner, a make-up artist and a very charity-driven person,” she said.
“My son and granddaughter live in Australia, but they are just as beautiful humans with the most beautiful and caring hearts.”
Belinda is also a passionate musician and singer. She first stepped on stage with her father, Reginald, when she was just five years old and continues to entertain people at every opportunity.
She is also a dedicated humanitarian with a strong passion for charity-driven projects and helps the SAPS with missing persons.
A diagnosis that changed everything
In 2017, Belinda was hit with the devastating news: “It’s cancer.” This marked the beginning of a lengthy journey that would test her faith, courage and strength like never before.
“I realised something was wrong after noticing a dent on the side of my breast. At first, I brushed it off, thinking it was probably just a hormonal change because our bodies tend to change as we get older,” she said.
However, she continued to experience a stinging sensation in her breast, eventually prompting her to seek medical attention.
Her doctors recommended a mammogram, which revealed a suspicious lump.
A biopsy would be needed to determine whether it was malignant or benign.
“Myself and a surgeon then decided that we would do a lumpectomy and remove the entire lump rather than biopsy it,” she explained.
“The waiting was the worst part. Your emotions are just all over the place. It’s a very scary time, mostly because you don’t know what is going to happen.
“It was even scarier after watching my son battle cancer and seeing what he went through. I did not know if I would be able to handle this, nor did I think I would be strong enough to face this kind of battle.”
Then came the news: her test results confirmed stage 2 ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer.
“I think most women do not realise the risks of contraceptives. I know I didn’t,” she said.
Fortunately, the cancer was caught early and could be treated. However, Belinda still needed to undergo four rounds of chemotherapy to help eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
Facing the physical and emotional toll of treatment
“Chemo … that is something I wouldn’t even wish upon my worst enemy,” she said emotionally.
“It was horrific. I think I experienced every single side effect there is. I even ended up having an allergic reaction to the chemotherapy during my third round.
“My immune system was completely broken down at one stage and I had to be admitted to hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where I was kept in complete isolation.
“It’s not the cancer itself that wears you down; it’s the treatment. It’s a very isolating and lonely feeling because, unless you have been through it yourself, you can never really explain to someone what it’s like,” she said.
Belinda believes her strong faith in God and the power of prayer played a major role in giving her the determination to pull through and keep fighting, even when she wanted to give up many times.
“I must also say that my strong support system was my sister, who attended every appointment and treatment with me, and my family was my strength during this journey. They were right beside me every step of the way and never let me quit. For that, I will forever be grateful.”
She continued: “I also knew my son would want me to fight, just as I had encouraged him to fight. That kept me motivated because I knew that, if he were still alive, he wouldn’t let me down or allow me to be defeated.”
When asked what advice she would give to another woman battling breast cancer, Belinda’s answer was simple:
“Cancer might be your Goliath, but with faith, courage and God on your side, every giant will fall.”
