Nuraan Harris – Gaining back life

Nuraan Harris shares how she gained her life back by using Lifegain® Advanced Nutritional Supplement after colon cancer surgery.

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Nuraan Harris (52) lives in Cape Town and has three daughters. 

Colon cancer diagnosis

In 2018, Nuraan had her gallbladder removed at a public hospital. She then experienced pain on her right upper flank and right side. Unfortunately for the next two years, the pain worsened so much that Nuraan couldn’t walk and experienced profuse sweating if she did anything strenuous. 

She was scheduled for a CT scan at the same hospital in 2020 but due to COVID, it was postponed. In 2022, Nuraan took her health in her own hands by contacting the surgeon who removed her gallbladder explaining the situation. Thankfully, he arranged for her to have an X-ray as well as blood tests as an outpatient. Her bloodwork was clear; a CT scan was ordered.

It’s thanks to the doctor who ordered the CT scan as he suggested a colorectal specialist to look at the scan as a tiny growth was spotted. “If it wasn’t for his suggestion, I would have been sent home with no further investigations,” Nuraan explains.

Nuraan consulted with the specialist and the 10 x 4cm growth was confirmed as colon cancer. She was due to be admitted for surgery but unfortunately the hospital had no open beds, so she had to wait until one became available. 

Due to the growth being extremely close to her appendix, the specialist advised her to do as little as possible; no heavy lifting or anything strenuous as he feared the growth and the appendix would rupture. 

Colon cancer surgery  

In April 2022, Nuraan underwent colon cancer surgery where the growth and her appendix was removed. 

“Thankfully, the histology report came back negative. I was cancer free and didn’t need further treatment (chemotherapy) and no stoma was needed, Alhamdulillah!” Nuraan expresses. 

Gaining back life

It’s thanks to a friend of Nuraan’s that she came across Lifegain® Advanced Nutritional Supplement after having surgery. 

“I wasn’t eating much and because I have a hiatus hernia (part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest) this tends to make me vomit at times when I eat. And after surgery, with about 30 odd staples holding my abdomen together, I didn’t want to vomit so this friend bought me Lifegain®. The added bonus was I was getting in the proper nutrients I required daily to heal and be healthy,” Nuraan says.

Lifegain® Advanced Nutritional Supplement was Nuraan’s go-to breakfast in a glass, with the vanilla and strawberry flavours being her favourites. Though, as a treat to herself, she would have the chocolate flavour shake. 

“When you’re sick it’s the easiest thing to make or take. My youngest daughter, who took care of me after my surgery, would make me smoothies with Lifegain®. She would add banana and a tad of peanut butter to the vanilla flavour or piece of strawberries and blueberries to the strawberry flavour. I know we can’t put a price on health and well-being but it’ worth every penny spent on Lifegain®.”

Fibromyalgia diagnosis

In 2023, a year after her cancer diagnosis, Nuraan was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (a disorder characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues). 

“My right side continues to be in pain, from my head to toe. Pain is similar on my left side but by far worse on my right side. I also experience bouts of excessive fatigue along with hectic brain fog,” Nuraan explains. 

Nuraan was prescribed amitriptyline, an antidepressant which is used to treat fibromyalgia, as well as pain killers for the pain. 

She adds, “There’s nothing really available from the local day hospital to treat fibromyalgia. We manage pain with pain medication, ointments, and magnesium supplements to lessen fatigue.”

“On the days when I’m in so much pain and can’t eat, I drink Lifegain®. It helps to get in the nutrients the body requires when you have a chronic or autoimmune illness. It’s really true to its name; you gain back your life little by little, day by day.”