POLOKWANE – Breast-cancer survivor Nene Mokgethle, committed to supporting women and encouraging early detection, hosted her third annual Table Talk with Nene at Perere recently.

Surrounded by women dressed in pink, participants shared their journeys – how they are coping, how they fought cancer and how they continue to navigate life after diagnosis.

They exchanged personal stories and comforted one another, reinforcing that none of them are facing their battles alone.

Mokgethle was open and transparent. “I discuss with them how cancer affected my love life and even led to divorce, my finances, my appearance and confidence, and how I overcame,” she said.

Now in remission for 15 years, she recalled noticing a small lump in her left breast when her baby was a year old. “At first my gynaecologist thought it was milk ducts because I had breastfed. Eventually I went for testing and got a breast-cancer diagnosis.”

She explained that, like many women, she didn’t believe she was at risk. “I wasn’t overweight, I wasn’t a smoker, I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but I still got it. That’s why I want to educate other women, especially on early dedection. With this movement, I aim to increase awareness and reduce the stigma around symptoms and treatment.”

Breast-cancer awareness, she said, remains essential as the disease is still the second-leading cause of death among women.

“Awareness is incredibly important, as early detection often through screening can identify the disease when it is most treatable. I want to focus on deprived areas to help reduce health inequalities.”

She said these sessions give people the courage to consult a doctor when something feels unusual. Mokgethle, who began with a group of 40 women, hopes to expand to rural areas where medical fears and misconceptions often delay diagnosis.

“Thank you to every brave and beautiful woman who joined us,” she said.