Every October, pink ribbons appear everywhere – on clothing, in shop windows and across social media. For many, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder to schedule a mammogram or support those undergoing cancer treatment.

For Melany Page, a breast cancer survivor and Warriors With A Purpose (WWAP) member, this month symbolises hope, resilience and that survival is possible even when the journey seems daunting.

She first had breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 33, when she saw a tiny lump in her breast. However, it was detected early, and she was in remission until 2019.

“During that year, I started feeling sick. I had a backache and painful legs, and I thought I wasn’t resting enough because I had a stressful job at that time,” she reflected.

A week later, she broke her femur and was rushed to the hospital, where the doctors and specialists examined her. She was placed in the osteoporosis ward for a month. While she was there, other results revealed the cancer was back and had metastasised – spreading to her liver, bones, lungs, and brain.

“I was told I had three months to live,” she recalled.

“I was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. I was weak and had lost so much weight. I was bedridden for four months. But I had to tell myself I had to fight,” Melany asserted firmly.

Her fight had to go on. She began chemotherapy, which lasted six exhausting months. “The journey was draining. I was on a schedule of eight painkillers daily, and my hair started falling out.”

When Charlotte Maxeke Hospital burned down, she was transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where she continued her chemo treatments. She describes this period as ‘another part of the fight’.

“At Bara, it was so crowded that we had to wake up at 04:00, and sometimes we wouldn’t even see the doctor, which meant we had to come back the next day. I couldn’t walk; I was on crutches and in a wheelchair.”

Melany credits her support system – her mother, sister, then-husband, and children – for being her backbone.
“They didn’t leave my side. I even had to ask them to carry on with their lives,” she said softly.

One of the turning points in her journey was joining a support group, where she found comfort in connecting with others who had walked similar paths. She said she found a bond among survivors, a sisterhood forged by shared experience.

“I feel truly grateful to be sitting here today, with the opportunity to see my grandchildren grow,” she reflected with a smile.

“Now, as a volunteer at WWAP, whenever we meet those walking the same journey, I make it a point to let them know I understand. I share my story, my fears, my victories, and my setbacks. I want them to see that it’s possible to come out the other side, stronger and more resilient.”

Her advice to others facing the same battle is to fix your mindset and diet. That helped her immensely.

“Join a support group, find a balance, and remember to put yourself first,” she said.

WWAP is also running a Pink Bra Project aimed at supporting breast cancer patients. Melany said they will be visiting Parktown on October 28, and are looking for donations of R150 or gently used pink bras. For more information, contact the founder of WWAP, Ney Singh, on 076 093 5584.