Ms Rahab Zulu

Breast Cancer Survivor

In October 2017 I felt a random pain in my left breast. I looked for places where I could get help and found the Pink Ribbon Breast Screening Centre. After a series of breast examinations, including a mammogram, I was given the daunting news of my diagnosis of stage three breast cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma), at the age of 35. The cancer had already spread to my axillary lymph nodes. I suffered a lot of side effects from chemotherapy, which meant that I had to be absent from work a lot whilst I was receiving treatment. My family and employer were the pillars of my strength and very supportive throughout my journey. The cancer was removed through surgery after sixteen cycles of chemotherapy. I knew after surgery that there was a lot of work to be done in advocating awareness about breast cancer, especially to young women who, just as I did, assumed that they are not at risk. The reality is that my cancer was not caused by hereditary factors. This was determined when I underwent genetic counselling and testing. I did a mastectomy and visualised the stigma that comes with it. I was informed that reconstruction was not an option at the time as I needed to receive radiation treatment for five weeks. I had to make lifestyle changes such as exercising and sticking to a healthy diet, which was not a priority before cancer. Today I allow society to learn more about beating breast cancer from my story hence I joined the National Cancer Campaign as Ambassador. EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES, SCREEN FOR CANCER TODAY!