I often get asked what I learned about having cancer.
It’s a valid and fair question, for survivors and the lucky few who have never gone through this journey. (And I genuinely hope with all my heart that you never do!)
On Friday, 21 October 2022, I learned I had Stage 1, triple-negative breast cancer.
I learned that there are a myriad of different cancers that exist within a certain type of cancer.
I learned that I had a genetic cancer.
I learned the depth and breadth of my medical aid benefits.
I learned that there are incredibly kind and smart people who can provide me with scientifically and medically proven ways to treat my cancer.
I learned that giving up was an option.
I learned that sparkling water is the best remedy for nausea.
I learned that, luckily, I have a wonderfully shaped head after losing all my hair during aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
I learned that I am so loved. (I actually always knew this; it was just amplified!)
I learned that being weak and vulnerable was a superpower.
I learned what beauty really was – resilience and strength.
And a year later, after 10 chemo sessions, a lumpectomy and 28 sessions of radiation, I rang THAT bell!
In life after cancer, I learned that I had built up such a stamina for endurance that the logical thing was to take up running. (And, if you have seen me on the road, you will immediately know I was not built for this.) But it has become the greatest source of peace and joy in my life.
I learned that I was good at long-distance running, not because I was fast, but because my body and mind were stronger than I ever knew.
I learned to recognise the woman staring back at me in the mirror and to love her in a different, better way.
I learned that grief is not predictable or linear. It can be cruel and incredible.
I learned that routine check-ups can continue to be triggering and traumatic.
I learned to live again.
And in June 2026, I learned I carried the BRCA1 gene. Three months after running my second Two Oceans Half Marathon, I opted for a double mastectomy as a cancer risk-reducing measure.
I often get asked what I learned about having had cancer.
It’s a simple answer, really.
That I wanted to live.
And the heavy burden of life never leaves me. It’s a daily responsibility I have – to live. To live beautifully. To live authentically and be the best version of myself.
And, believe me, I fail most days because I am still angry and am stuck in the unstable stages of grief. Because I am human, and life is so hard.
But because I am trying.
If there is one thing you learn from my journey, it’s to know your body, trust it and advocate for it. Take care of yourself.
Because early detection matters. And sometimes, it gives you the chance to learn just how fiercely you want to live.