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Stories of Hope
Read about our cancer Survivors’ journeys as they cope with cancer and be inspired and encouraged. See posts below.
Share Your Story with Us
Your story as a cancer Survivor (anyone who has heard the words “you have cancer”) or as a loved one, or caregiver of someone affected by cancer, can be of great encouragement to others.
Share your experience and join our support groups on Facebook.
*CANSA reserves the right not to publish your story if content is inappropriate, and to edit copy – you will receive the link to your story per email and can ask for edits to be made. The turn-around time for a story to be published is 5 work days. Queries may be sent to info@cansa.org.za
Read more stories of Hope here:
- CANSA website – share your story
- Shavathon website – share your story
- Relay For Life website – share your story
CANSA’s TLC Paediatric Ward Staff Help Mom & Son Cope with Treatment
When I found out that my only son, Stuurman (11 yrs old), had brain cancer I thought my eyes and ears must be deceiving me. It was the 19th March, a day I cannot forget. My name is Sarah Tlou and I am like any other woman who takes care of household matters, tries to […]
Read morePublished: 16 September 2014 | Last Updated: 7 April 2026
Categories: CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Stories of Hope
Rudi Overcomes Leukaemia with Support from TLC Staff at CANSA
Rudi Pretorius, a bubbly 10-year old, was diagnosed with leukaemia at 18 months old. His mother, Bea explains, “On a morning like no other, I realised that Rudi was very pale and acting very differently than usual. We decided to take Rudi to the doctor and after numerous questions to the doctor, a detailed examination […]
Read morePublished: 15 September 2014 | Last Updated: 3 November 2025
Categories: CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Stories of Hope
Cancer and Hope in One Sentence
Lucinda Carter’s Cancer Journey: I did not think there was such a thing, but after I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer, it became a reality for me – there is hope after cancer! I am the mother of four children and I was bowled over when the doctor gave me the news. Suddenly this disease […]
Read morePublished: 6 June 2014 | Last Updated: 2 June 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Nicholas Joseph Colorectal Cancer Survivor Inspires Others
Says Nicholas, “I am very passionate about creating greater awareness about the work that CANSA is doing in the fight against cancer. As a result, I became involved in Relay For Life (RFL) to help raise much needed funds for CANSA and also to promote awareness to help reduce cancer risk. “
Read morePublished: 9 April 2014 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire
Farmer’s Skin Cancer Ordeal
Ken was a farmer – which meant being on the lands from dawn till dusk and spending many hours outdoors. Days were spent catching tigerfish in Kariba Dam – his passion – without the protection offered by a hat and sunscreen. This meant his exposure to UV rays reached frightening levels. Years later the cancer […]
Read morePublished: 29 November 2013 | Last Updated: 7 August 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope
Love Your Nuts – Torsten Koehler – Testicular Cancer Survivor
Torsten Koehler was a primary school biology teacher at the time he discovered he had aggressive testicular cancer. He has written a book ‘Love Your Nuts’ about his journey along the road to recovery and is actively involved in promoting awareness re testicular cancer. Read more about Torsten’s journey below and visit his website for more […]
Read morePublished: 14 November 2013 | Last Updated: 9 March 2021
Categories: Men's Health, Stories of Hope
Thank You For Saving My Life
Lou Corbitt, prostate cancer survivor, wrote a letter to the Maritzburg Sun: I read an article by CANSA advising all men to take advantage of free blood analysis to detect their Prostate Serum Antigen (PSA) levels in order to detect prostate cancer. A friend and I went along to get tested. I was asked to return […]
Read morePublished: 14 November 2013 | Last Updated: 9 July 2025
Categories: Men's Health, Stories of Hope
Double Dose of Cancer – Anne Inspires Survivors
Says Anne, “I stay in touch with over 200 cancer Survivors in my community throughout the year, phoning them on a monthly basis, encouraging them to keep on fighting cancer, as they journey towards recovery. I also organise a Survivor’s Day to celebrate cancer Survivors. They are a constant source of wonder and I have such great respect for the way they cope, without complaint! Their positive attitude and perseverance is inspiring. “
Read morePublished: 24 October 2013 | Last Updated: 29 August 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire, Women's Health
Rachel Inspires After Double Mastectomy
Says Rachel, breast cancer Survivor and CANSA Volunteer, “I am inspired by John C. Maxwell: ‘Forget what hurt you, never forget what it taught you’.” Her message to newly diagnosed patients is that there’s always hope. “Do not give in, do not give up, you will make it… You are more than a conqueror!”
Read morePublished: 11 October 2013 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire, Women's Health
What Will You Do For The Best Possible Survival
Madhuri Chavda is a wife and mother, a Hindu woman with a proud cultural tradition who comes from a family that still owns the same chain of shoe stores as it did when she was a little girl. Madhuri is as involved in her community as she is in maintaining a warm and spotless home, […]
Read morePublished: 11 October 2013 | Last Updated: 29 August 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Teresa Wilson – Breast Cancer Survivor
As a healthy, Comrades-running mother and business woman, cancer was the last thing Teresa ever thought would happen to her. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago. She lost her step-mother to cancer in 2004 and her father in 2010. Cancer was an all too familiar concept to Teresa, yet she never […]
Read morePublished: 11 October 2013 | Last Updated: 25 October 2022
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Henk Warns: Colorectal Cancer Affects Young People Too!
It was while he was living an active life and enjoying a lovely holiday in the Sabie in June 2012, that Henk Ferreira started realising that his body wasn’t functioning as it is supposed to. After experiencing stomach problems and cramps for little while and realising that none of his prescribed medication was improving his […]
Read morePublished: 2 April 2013 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope
Lessons Learnt from Cancer – Volunteer and cancer Survivor Neil Shares
A cancer symposium was held on 26 October 2012 in the CANSA Central Gauteng region. The day was a success and one of CANSA’s volunteers and a cancer Survivor, Neil Macphail gave a presentation entitled “Lessons learnt from cancer.” Neil is willing to share this presentation with other survivors and their families. In summary, Neil says – Develop […]
Read morePublished: 29 November 2012 | Last Updated: 7 April 2026
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire
Die Pad Wat Ons Stap – Ons Kankerreis
“Die pad wat ek stap is een van wonderwerke, onbeskryflik baie genade, dankbaarheid en liefde,” – dit is drie vroue van Oudtshoorn eens, wat onderskeidelik gediagnoseer is met Bors- en Servikale Kanker. Al drie van hulle het chirurgie, chemoterapie en bestralingsterapie ontvang. Foto regs – Anina Meiring, Maria Oosthuizen, Maurita Hartzenberg. Kanker is een van […]
Read morePublished: 28 September 2012 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Published: 23 September 2012 | Last Updated: 9 July 2025
Categories: Cope with Cancer, Stories of Hope
Pap smear Saves Maphuti’s Life
Maphuti, shares how she came to volunteer for CANSA. Says Maphuti, “CANSA has helped me appreciate life. The support I received was overwhelming and I feel at home. CANSA serves as a ray of hope to those who do not see life beyond the cancer – for a while I was one of those people…”
Read morePublished: 2 September 2012 | Last Updated: 5 May 2021
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire, Women's Health
A Nurse’s Tale of Hope – Rita Naidoo
Sister Rita Naidoo is the cardiac rehabilitation unit manager at Life Westville Hospital, but she’s also an inspirational cancer survivor. She will never forget the day in December 2002 when her twins graduated from preschool; not just because it was an important milestone in their lives, but because it was also the day that she discovered […]
Read morePublished: 6 December 2011 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Cancer Smancer – Fighting Cancer with a Smile
My cancer experience had a rather ridiculous start. My son, who was 5 at the time, complained of a sore stomach and an itchy butt. After unsuccessfully trying the normal deworming medicine, I eventually took him to our local GP. A month earlier I had found a lump in my right breast, but because it […]
Read morePublished: 6 December 2011 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Jeremy Mansfield – Surviving, Standing Up and Doing Good
For radio and television personality, Jeremy Mansfield, his cancer journey started on a Easter weekend when he and his wife came back from a relaxing break in the Seychelles. “We had sushi and after I got out of a hot shower I said to Jacqui it’s quite cold. With a puzzled look she said it […]
Read morePublished: 22 November 2011 | Last Updated: 22 March 2016
Categories: Stories of Hope
Magdalene Nunes Fights Cervical Cancer
“I started experiencing pain in my leg, but I was so busy with work that I didn’t pay any attention to it. My daughter urged me to go to hospital – it was cervical cancer.” Read Magdalene’s story here…
Read morePublished: 7 September 2011 | Last Updated: 19 June 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health
Moshe Battles Leukaemia and Wins
My name is Moshe Nchwe and this is a short autobiography of my life with cancer, my ups and downs, my trials and tribulations and ultimately my victory through perseverance and the will to overcome this disease. This is my story of how I survived the battle with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and how I lived […]
Read morePublished: 22 February 2011 | Last Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope
