December 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

Suzette Jasmin shares how Lifegain Advanced Nutritional Supplement helped her recovery after kidney cancer surgery.

Suzette Jasmin (61) stays in Johannesburg, Gauteng. She is divorced and has four children. In August 2012, Suzette was diagnosed with kidney cancer. This came after consulting a urologist her GP referred her to as she had symptoms of blood in her urine as well as abdomen pain. “I was sent for a CT scan and when discussing the surgery, this young doctor put so much fear in me. He said it’s such a difficult surgery as the mass is 12,5cm…

December 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

After losing her nose due to skin cancer, Nonhlanhla Ramuhala has decided to come out of hiding and face the world. She shares how she got to this place of acceptance.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Nonhlanhla Ramuhala (53) stays in Meyerton, Gauteng. She is married with three children.  In 2013, Nonhlanhla had encephalitis (inflammation of the active tissues of the brain caused by an infection) and after recovery, stopped working. She also always battled with rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose) and would visit her GP many…

December 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

Twenty-two years after successful osteosarcoma treatment, Alastair Armstrong underwent an amputation due to ongoing infections caused by an internal prothesis. Despite this, he has won many SA titles competing as a paracyclist.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Alastair Armstrong (58) lives in Lanseria, Gauteng with his wife and three children.  In 1994, at the age of 28, Alastair reached new heights as a professional cyclist and was signed with a major sponsor. Unfortunately, this occurred at the same time that he started feeling pain in his right…

September 30, 2024 Word for Word Media

Breast cancer survivor, Devi Chetram, tells us how Lifegain Advanced Nutritional Supplement aided her recovery as well as gave her the boost that she needed to tackle everyday life, including the passing of her husband.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Devi Chetram (67), a widow, lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng. She has three adult children. Breast cancer diagnosis Devi was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer in 2007. She had multiple chemotherapy sessions before a mastectomy. “During my cancer treatment, I experienced fatigue, weakness, nausea, loss…

September 30, 2024 Word for Word Media

Helen Fivelman shares how she is handling metastatic pancreatic cancer and how the diagnosis has made her more aware of the beauty of life.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Helen Fivelman (66) lives in Glenhazel, Gauteng. She is a widow and has one daughter and three grandchildren.  Last year May, Helen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; this came after a series of medical investigations. Three months prior Helen was fatigued which she put down to the fact that she swam five times a week and that her…

September 30, 2024 Word for Word Media

After two liver cancer surgeries, Liza Truter was told she had roughly a few months to live. Ten years later, she tells the story of how she changed her lifestyle and miraculously survived. 

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Liza Truter (62) lives in Gauteng with her husband. They have two children and three grandchildren. In 2014, while waiting in the car for my husband, I stretched, and it felt like something had torn inside of me. I couldn’t breathe and was in extreme pain. After a GP consultation, I was…

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

Pieter Le Roux shares how his leukaemia diagnosis steered his counselling career into making valuable life connections and how he sees this as what life is all about. 

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Pieter Le Roux (44) lives in Helderkruin, Gauteng. He is a cat dad.  After a trip to USA, in December 2013, for the Top 100 upcoming youth pastors, Pieter was extremely tired. He put it down to travelling. Three months went by and his fatigue was at a high.  “I went to my GP; when…

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

Despite a relapse in 2021, eight years after his initial diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Colin Smith says recovering from COVID has been worse than his recurring blood cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Colin Smith (70) lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng with his wife. They have three children and two grandchildren.  Diagnosis  At the age of 59, in February 2013, Colin experienced discomfort in the top right side of his abdomen. He thought it was a pulled muscle and adds that he hadn’t seen a doctor since undergoing…

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

Reverend Kosie Loots shares how his faith, family, and friends pulled him through the toughest time of prostate cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Reverend Kosie Loots (76) lives in Randburg, Gauteng with his wife, Christine. They have two children and three grandchildren.  Regular check-ups I firmly believe that taking care of my physical health is essential. In 1978 I made a promise to myself and the Lord to visit my doctor every six months for regular check-ups. During these visits, my PSA count was consistently normal until the results from March…

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

Graeme Le Roux tells us how cryoablation saved him from having major surgery, to remove a cancerous tumour, that would have left him with a urostomy bag.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Graeme Le Roux (56) lives in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal with his wife, Nicci, and their two children, aged 23 and 19. Graeme has had health issues since he was 29 years old; he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract, which causes severe…

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

In honour of International Cancer Survivors Day, Dylan-Jay Vankeirsbilck shares his experience of his first-ever operation, a full neck dissection, that eventually led to an oesophageal cancer diagnosis.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Dylan-Jay Vankeirsbilck (34) lives in East London. In March 2022, while at work Dylan-Jay noticed a little lump on the right side of his neck. Thinking it could just be an enlarged lymph node and because it wasn’t painful, he didn’t think too much of it though his girlfriend, Natasha, was concerned….

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

Des Watkins tells us about how a drug trial and surgery gave him his second life, how losing his first wife to metastatic breast cancer impacted him, and the joy of finding love again.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Desmond Watkins (67) lives in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal with his second wife, Burnice. He has two adult children from his first marriage. Diagnosed in 2003 Des and Glynis, Des’ first wife, were staying in Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) at the time when Des began experiencing…