A STORY TO INSPIRE: HOW NTSAKO MANGANYI OVERCAME BREAST CANCER

At the age of 32, Ntsako Manganyi found herself in a battle, not just with breast cancer but with Covid-19 too. Her story is an inspiring one of courage and inner strength, that underline the importance of cancer awareness, early diagnosis and treatment.

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In early 2019, Ntsako thought her life was moving in the right direction. The single mother from Bungeni in Limpopo had just started a new job in Pretoria and was happy to be providing for her six-year-old twins.

But in May her world suddenly turned upside down when she discovered a lump in her breast. Her sister, Nyeleti, is a breast cancer survivor who founded the Ntshembho Cancer Foundation, and she advised Ntsako to get examined immediately. ‘She knew the lump could be serious,’ says Ntsako, ‘and it turns out she was right.’ After being examined and having a biopsy, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.



ROCKY ROAD AHEAD
Ntsako began chemotherapy at Kalafong Hospital in Tshwane, which was close to her work. She wanted to receive treatment in Limpopo so she could be closer to her family, but her doctors advised against it. ‘They didn’t want me disrupting my treatment, and warned of the shortage of oncologists in Limpopo,’ she says.

She eventually quit her job and went home to Limpopo, but she continued with her treatments at Kalafong Hospital in Gauteng, travelling from Limpopo for the monthly chemotherapy sessions.

However, when national Covid-19 lockdown measures were implemented in March 2020, Ntsako temporarily stopped treatment. ‘I was scared of getting the virus, and restrictions on public transport between provinces made travelling challenging,’ she says. ‘But my condition worsened, and I could not risk getting sicker.’ So, using her hospital appointment letter as a travel permit, she resumed regular chemo sessions at Kalafong. Little did she know that further challenges were about to be thrown her way.

During the lockdown period, it was estimated that about 70% of surgeries would be postponed or cancelled – only essential surgeries would be performed – resulting in a backlog of approximately 150,000 surgical procedures. Ntsako was scheduled to have her breast removed in January 2021. However, shortly before she was due to undergo the mastectomy, she tested positive for Covid-19.

Related article: How to practice self-love and body positivity after cancer

MOTIVATED BY LOVE
‘At first, I didn’t think I’d survive fighting two deadly diseases at once, but I had to stay strong for my kids,’ she says, ‘and my family and doctors were very supportive during this time.’ Thankfully, she only experienced minor Covid-19 symptoms, and after recovery she returned to Kalafong Hospital and had a successful mastectomy. ‘It was scary and sad, knowing that I had to lose a part of my body, but I told myself that it is better to lose a breast than my life,’ says Ntsako, adding that the first few days after surgery were painful, but she is happy that the procedure was a success. The next step is radiation therapy, which is the final phase of her cancer treatment.

“I didn’t know how strong I was until being strong was the only option I had… I am so grateful and excited about what lies ahead.”

Related article: Coping with the big C

PAYING IT FORWARD
After completing radiation therapy, Ntsako plans to work with her sister’s foundation and use her experience to educate her community about cancer. ‘I want others to know that, although it can take you months and even years to fully overcome breast cancer, it is possible to beat it,’ she says. She adds that we all face different challenges in life, but instead of letting challenges defeat us, we must be motivated by them to fight even harder. ‘I didn’t know how strong I was until being strong was the only option I had,’ says Ntsako. ‘I am so grateful and excited about what lies ahead.’

Related article: The beginner’s guide to understanding cancer terms


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