My journey with breast cancer

Posted on 12 August 2013

When South African beauty icon Wilma van der Bijl discovered cancer in her breast, her life took a turn in a surprising direction. She shares her tough but ultimately triumphant race against the seemingly impossible.

Words Rose Cohen Photographs Danie Nel

No-one is immune to cancer. We hear this all the time and yet it’s always a tremendous shock when someone we see as untouchable is diagnosed with ‘the big C’. We try to justify the inevitable ‘why’ with reason. We tell ourselves: ‘Oh, but he had a pack-a-day habit,’ or ‘She had it coming, she was overweight’ but Wilma van der Bijl had none of these things. The former Miss South Africa (she won the title in 1987) has always been the picture of health. She was fit, had no risk factors and no direct family history of the disease when she was diagnosed. ‘I’ve always stayed in tune with my body,’ says Wilma. ‘I was a purist when it came to my health.’ Sure, she was stressed at times, and perhaps a little highly strung, but what busy, hard-working mother-of-two isn’t?

The bomb drop
Just before she was diagnosed, Wilma went through a period of feeling utterly exhausted. She also had that nagging feeling something was wrong. ‘It was like I knew all was not well with me,’ reflects Wilma. ‘I had strange shooting pains, similar to the letdown feeling breast-feeding mothers get, in my right breast. I had a mammogram scheduled and I asked the radiologist please to check the right side thoroughly.’ And there it was, the evidence of what she’d suspected. What happened next was all a bit of a blur. Wilma was scheduled for a biopsy, during which a small needle was inserted into the area in question to extract a tissue sample for testing. ‘I didn’t tell my husband,’ she says. ‘I didn’t want to worry anyone until it was certain.’
The biopsy was tougher than Wilma had anticipated. ‘It’s a tricky procedure,’ she says. ‘I was given a local anaesthetic and had to sit very still while they used a sonar to locate the exact spot under suspicion. I drove myself home after the procedure, which is not advisable [after any procedure].’ Wilma waited two very long and nerve-racking days for the results. Her gynaecologist called her in, confirmed it was cancer and sent her to a surgeon, who advised a bilateral mastectomy. ‘That was a shock!’ says Wilma. ‘I was expecting a lumpectomy [surgical removal of the lump in her breast] but I remained calm.’
She told the surgeon to do whatever he had to do to make sure she was fine. Her husband had had four heart bypasses in recent years and with her children (then aged five and six) top of mind, she decided she had to survive.

Declaring war
The pace picked up after that. Wilma broke the news to her husband, who was reassuring and very supportive. He was composed and said, ‘Wilma, it is what it is.’ She had to see a chain of specialists who would form her core treatment team. Wilma opted for breast reconstruction to take place immediately after her bilateral mastectomy. ‘It’s essential to be informed and to feel safe and empowered, so do your research,’ advises Wilma. ‘There’s nothing wrong with a second opinion. Seek out doctors who are encouraging and sensitive, but don’t compare yourself with others who’ve had cancer.  There are many different types of cancer and no two treatment plans are the same.’

Wilma also felt the need to have a woman on her medical team, so she requested a female anaesthetist.  ‘A woman’s breasts are the greatest expression of her femininity. They’re a fully formed part of our bodies from about the age of 13. We wear them like accessories and they shape us. I needed someone on my side who would understand the psychological as well as the practical impact of what I was going through.’

One battle at a time
Looking back, Wilma realises that although surgery is a big deal, it wasn’t as challenging as the chemotherapy and radiation treatments that followed. ‘It’s not like a 10-step programme,’ she explains. ‘You have to remain flexible because the goal posts keep changing.’
Although chemo was every bit as unpleasant for Wilma as we would all imagine, knowing that it had a purpose to fulfil helped to make her resilient. Being informed about what’s happening to your body and why, is the secret Wilma cites to enduring the unpleasant side effects (such as fatigue, nausea and compromised immunity) successfully. ‘Let go of being a hero,’ is Wilma’s advice to anyone undergoing cancer treatment. ‘You need support. Accept and ask for help, call in those favours your friends owe, because you never know when you’re going to need it.’

Radiation, while still uncomfortable, was a lot more manageable for Wilma. Skin sensitivity (similar to sunburn) is a common side effect but a minor discomfort in the grander scheme of things. ‘Some individuals do report shortness of breath and a dry throat from radiation treatment,’ says Wilma, but she cautions that no two people’s experiences are exactly the same.

The next chapter
Since her brush with breast cancer, Wilma has a new perspective. She tries to live in the present, aware of every single moment. She goes for annual checkups but avoids fretting about the future. Her experience has made her an avid campaigner for breast-cancer awareness. ‘Have you had a mammogram?’ Towards the end of the interview Wilma turns the tables on her interviewer.

‘Uh, no,’ I responded, a bit guiltily. ‘I’m too young.’ But I know better now. Wilma’s story teaches us all that cancer does not discriminate. Everyone is at risk and it doesn’t pay to be blasé.

Wilma’s top theatre tip
Once Wilma knew she had cancer, she felt like she had a tick on her body that she couldn’t get rid of fast enough. ‘But there is seldom a need to rush into the operating theatre,’ says Wilma. ‘I would advise taking a few days to wrap your head around what’s happening to you and prepare yourself mentally. Don’t be panicked. There are many options you need to weigh up and consider before you can move forward.’

Wilma’s top biopsy tip
‘Tell a friend what’s happening and take her with you to the procedure. You’ll need her to drive you home because you’re likely to be sore and emotional afterwards.’

Wilma’s top 10 tips for conquering chemotherapy and radiation

1. Try to eat. Your appetite may be gone but you need to keep up your strength. Healthy, fresh and green should be the mainstay of
   your diet.
2. Drink lots of fluids. It may make you nauseous but try to find a drink that’s soothing. A mix of Coca-Cola and water worked for me.
3. Rest. You need lots of sleep. Your body is taking a knock and needs time to recover.
4. Avoid using body lotion, deodorant or talcum powder on areas affected by radiation.
5. Wear loose-fitting shirts to avoid aggravating skin irritation from radiation.
6. Be quiet, slow down. This is your chance to pause and seek out the positives in your life.
7. Your family suffers as much as you do through the process. Find a good counsellor and support network for them.
8. Where possible, schedule any treatment for a Friday so you have the weekend to recover.
9. Stay away from crowds and sick people. Your immunity will be at an all-time low and you can’t afford to get an infection.
10. Hang on to your sense of humour. There are times when laughter really is the best medicine.

 

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.