A breast cancer survivor in Bloemfontein, Vanessa Pijoos, is using her story to inspire hope and the importance of education about cancer.
A campaigner in her own right, she spreads the gospel of hope and participates in initiatives such as the Big Walk and Pink Ribbon campaigns, the latter of which is a well-recognised symbol of breast cancer awareness.
Pijoos, who works as an administrative officer at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein and holds a Bachelor of Management Leadership (BML) degree, says here devastating news of cancer came in 2016.
“Hearing that you have cancer can sometimes feel like a death sentence. My first diagnosis in March 2016 was hard to hear, because the news was very unexpected, and it was devastating. I was diagnosed with HER2-positive stage 2 breast cancer. Thereafter, I was in remission for almost seven years.
“But then the cancer came back, and in February 2023 I was diagnosed with the same breast cancer – only this time it was stage 1. It was still not easy to hear that it was back. The doctor then also told me that I had to undergo a bilateral mastectomy, which is the removal of both my breasts,” says Pijoos.
“It was difficult to accept and to make peace with what would be my new normal for the time being. I was overwhelmed, heartbroken, and had immense fear about the future and what laid ahead of me.
“Cancer affects your physical health, as well as mental and emotional well-being, and left me with scars inside and outside my body. When I heard that I had cancer again in 2023, the questions that filled my mind was whether I would make it, whether I would still be able to enjoy my life, what would my future look like, and how would this new normal affect my children, inner circle, and work.”
Pijoos attributes her ability to thrive to her faith in God.
“This kept me going through the difficult journey. I am also blessed to have an amazing support system that consists of my family and friends, who continue to carry me in prayers.
“The chemotherapy had a lot of side effects, but it did not stop me from getting up every day, dressing up, and going to work, knowing I have a support system at work. Over the past years, I have witnessed my own transformation from fragility to fortitude. Through the treatments, trials and hardship, I discovered inner resilience and a deeper connection with God.
“With renewed hope, I shifted from survival mode to embracing life’s beauty, trusting in God’s guidance, his love for me and his grace. I never allowed a cancer diagnosis or the reality of losing both breasts to define me, or make me feel less feminine,” says Pijoos.
“The ‘Big C’ is not always a death sentence, but it will affect your mental and physical health. Too many people are not educated on what cancer is, and can have a misconception that it is contagious.”
