“In a moment where you are not sure how much time you have left on this earth, you quickly realise what is truly important.”
Ever heard the saying that ‘Cancer is a word, not a sentence’? Well, this has been proven by the brave Bloemfontein breast cancer warrior, Christa van Zyl. She speaks to Get It Magazine about her fight for hope, strength, and love.
Christa was diagnosed with breast cancer on the 17th of January 2017. For her going through a battle such as cancer had put many things in her life back into perspective. “It was just before Christmas when I felt a lump in my left breast. I dreaded ruining the festive season for myself and my family, so I decided that I will attend to it after the holidays.”
She has three children, two daughters and a son. “My children are my world and the reason I breathe. Throughout my treatment, I made it my mission to still put my children first. No matter how sick I felt, if my children wanted to do something, I would put on a brave face and do it. I even moved one of my chemo sessions to go and watch a Bonnie Tyler show with my daughter.”
Early in January of 2018, she consulted her General Practitioner and was referred for a biopsy, Christa’s first test came back negative. “I did not want to do any further tests but my oncologist called me and practically begged me to go for a second test and there, the second biopsy tested positive for breast cancer. From there it was a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments and emotions.”
Christa was devastated when she found out that it was cancer. “I felt as though I was being stripped of my femininity. I was even losing my hair. This broke me as I was always such a perfectionist with my hair and the next moment, there was nothing. I had no hair.”
Before her surgery, she decided to go on holiday with her family and used this time to get her head straight and calm herself down, for she knew this battle she had to fight and win.
She was scheduled for the mastectomy on 1 February. “It was on my birthday but I refused as I did not want to be reminded of my surgery every year on my birthday. I postponed the surgery until 14 February and after the surgery, I started chemotherapy.”
She met a friend during one of her chemotherapy sessions who told her about the Areola Tattoo. This is a cosmetic procedure that is done on the area of the breast or chest where the areola is positioned. This procedure helps breast cancer survivors to be comfortable in their bodies post-surgery. At first, she did not have the money to have it done but when she met Tanya Loots, she was able to provide her with a more affordable option. “I had no hesitations and no regrets. I needed this tattoo for my recovery. I immediately knew that I wanted to get the tattoo. The mastectomy stripped me of my womanhood. The tattoo just made it look more natural again and brings back a sense of normality.”
Advice this breast cancer warrior would give to her fellow warriors is that they should take the time to carefully consider all their options because everyone will have more than one option. “Get your head straight, calm down, and stay positive. Cancer is as much a mental battle as it is a physical battle. You can’t change it and you need to accept it. And pray…”
TEXT: Sazly Moses PHOTOGRAPHER: Louis Reynardt
