Patient Stories Archives

Oncology Man Rev Kosie Loots – Unapologetically open

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…

Colon Cancer Graeme Le Roux – It was a no-brainer

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

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…

Brain Cancer Dylan-Jay Vankeirsbilck: My first-ever operation

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

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….

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) Des Watkins: My second life

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

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…

Head and Neck Cancer George Eliades – My hope came from my wife

April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

George Eliades shares how the taste of his favourite treat led to a diagnosis of tongue cancer and how his wife’s support gave him hope throughout treatment.

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

George Eliades (52) lives in Parys, Free State with his wife, Wilna. They have two daughters. George loved eating chocolate every night before bed until, in October 2022, the chocolate burnt his tongue. He thought it was weird so went to a dentist. It was treated as an ulcer with salt water and an oral…

Colon Cancer Samantha Edwards – Shining through adversity

February 7, 2024 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Samantha Edwards, a successful career woman and mother, shares her unexpected journey with colon cancer and how a basket of complementary therapies has aided her recovery.

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

Samantha Edwards (42) lives in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with her husband and two daughters, aged three and two. Sam’s cancer journey began in October 2022 not long after the birth of her second daughter. With two children born within a span of 15 months, her symptoms were easily dismissed with the demands of being a busy, working…

Cervical Cancer Winnie Ndlovu – Making the most of life

December 1, 2023 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Winnie Ndlovu has been in remission for five years. She shares her cervical cancer journey.

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

Winnie Ndlovu (53) lives in Vosloorus, Gauteng. She is a widow and has four children aged 33, 30, 25 and 12. Stage 2 cervical cancer Winnie started going for Pap smears at the age of 45. When she went for a Pap smear in March 2018, at the age of 48, the results showed abnormal cells and she was reffered to a hospital where a biopsy was…

Patient Stories Where are they now?

September 29, 2023 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Two of our Cancer Warriors, Paula Robertson and Xolani Hlongwane, share what has happened since they shared their stories.

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

Paula Robertson Paula Robertson (65) lives in Glenvista, Gauteng with her husband. She is a proud granny to three grandchildren. Since finishing treatment for colon cancer in 2015, Paula continued with her life and that included playing hockey. In March 2020, she was chosen for the 60-year age group (A squad) to represent SA at the World Masters Hockey World Cup…

Patient Stories Arlene Sanford – I’ve always had chutzpah

September 29, 2023 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Arlene Sanford says she has always had chutzpah (nerve) and now she is using that chutzpah to fight metastatic stomach cancer.

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

Arlene Sanford (66) lives with her husband, Neil, in Rivonia, Gauteng. Around mid-2022, Arlene started losing weight as she couldn’t eat. “Everything was getting stuck, so I went to our GP and he sent me for an ultrasound. After that I was sent for a colonoscopy (an exam to look for changes in the large intestine and rectum) which was clear,…

Cervical Cancer Caryl Pienaar – No tears, no anger, no pity

July 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Caryl Pienaar shares her journey of cervical cancer, and recently uterine cancer for which she is still undergoing active treatment.

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

Caryl Pienaar (59) lives in Radiokop, Gauteng. Cervical cancer In 2016 after a few years of being menopausal, I started spotting and visited my gynae. He performed a hysteroscopy (procedure that visualises the inside of uterus), the results showed nothing too concerning. A month later I experienced more spotting, so I went back. I figured that at 53, I definitely wasn’t going to start a family and asked him to…

Patient Stories Lucy Nkosi – Celebrating life amidst the shadows of despair

July 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Lucy Nkosi poetically details how she and her family are dealing with her mother’s recurrence of leiomyosarcoma.

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

Lucy Nkosi (32) and her mother, Philisiwe Nkosi (61) lives in Soweto, Gauteng. I sit in the waiting room, anxiously thinking about my mother’s upcoming birthday. As tears build up, memories rush through my mind, sending me back to her joyful celebration a year ago, a dramatic contrastto the present occasion, clouded by the recurrence of leiomyosarcoma. We gathered in a beautifully decorated room, waiting to receive our guest of honour. My mother entered…

Childhood Cancer Karabo Nstiane – Thriving toddler

July 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

Kegomoditswe Nstiane shares the journey of her daughter, Karabo, who was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma at four months, and how she is now an energetic three-year-old who is thriving.

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

Karabo Nstiane (3) lives in Krugersdorp, Gauteng with her parents, Kegomoditswe Nstiane and Herbert Matlhole, and her older brother, Koketso. Swollen tummy When Karabo was four months old, her mother, Kegomoditswe, noticed her tummy was swollen. “I thought it was from the formula I was giving her as I was mix-feeding her with breast milk and formula. I took her to the…