By: Zethu Gweva
A cancer survivor Nomava Mpangalala said that there is life after cancer. She was speaking at the Candlelight Memorial Ceremony for the late MEC Mandla Makupula at Steve Tshwete Worksite in Zwelitsha today.
The ceremony was to commemorate the late Makupula who died of Lung Cancer in 2018 and to create awareness about the dangers of cancer.
According to Mpangalala she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and had her breast removed a week after her diagnosis.
“After the surgery, the doctor came back and told me that they removed the lump before it could spread across the body. Due to the size of the lump, chemotherapy was optional for me but I opted to go for chemotherapy cause I did not want to take any risks,” said Mpangalala.
In addition Mpangalala said the doctors implanted an artificial breast to replace the breast which had a lump.
She expressed that, through all her trials and tribulations she can safely say that she is cancer free and that there is life after cancer.
“They had to reduce my other breast to the same size as my artificial breast, and I feel like a young girl again,” she said.
Speaking to BCM News, the department of Health Non-Communicable Diseases expert Noluntu Mtshwane said cancer is a silent killer and that people need to go for regular check ups to avoid deadly situations.
She added hospitals that assist patients with Cancer at the Buffalo City Metropolitan are Bhisho Hospital, Frere Hospital and Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
“We say its non-communicable because it’s not infectious as it is hereditary. When you start to have it, you can not feel pain, hence we say it is a silent killer,” said Mtshwane.
Mtshwane urged everyone to take care of their health. She added that it is estimated that women are more prone to cancer than men and continued to say that men hardly examine whether they have cancer or not.