“I’m blessed with cancer.”
Linda Burger is a 63 year old woman who does copious amounts of volunteer work. She has a husband, two daughters and a grandchild.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 2, 2011.
But Linda does not see her cancer as a curse, she sees it as a gift from God, a sign of what he wanted her to do with her life.
“I had just retired and had been overseas on holiday. When I came back I thought to myself ‘what am I going to do with myself now’ because I am a very active person,” says Linda.
10 days later she decided to go for her annual medical check and the doctor found a cyst on her breast and diagnosed her with breast cancer.
“I felt this was a sign from God telling me in which direction my life needed to go,” she says.
Her doctor wanted to remove her breast but she decided to go to another doctor for a second opinion.
The second doctor said it was not serious enough for her breast to be removed and immediately sent Linda to have a part of her breast, which was very infected, cut out. Linda was lucky enough not to have to go for chemotherapy and only had to undergo 6 weeks of radiation.
“Now I go back every 6 months for my regular check up. My next one will be in January next year. I often forget I have cancer and only remember and get a bit nervous just before each check up.”
Although still in shock at the news, Linda went to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) and asked if she could be a volunteer for them. Since then, she has been immensely involved with charity work for the organisation and lending an ear to patients who are also dealing with the battle against cancer.
Linda is very passionate about working with women as well as men who are diagnosed with breast cancer, but she also has a special place for children and teenagers who are going through the hard times living with cancer throws at them.
She says it is very important for women and men to get tested regularly and be aware of the possibilities of breast cancer. “If you listen to your body and it is telling you there is something wrong, don’t ignore it. Go get tested, even if it turns out there is nothing wrong, rather be safe,” she advises.
“I am blessed with cancer. If I didn’t have cancer, I would never have been doing what I’m doing now for Cansa.
