In a world where resilience takes many forms, Zamantunguwa Nxumalo’s journey fighting cervical cancer was one that went from fear to empowerment. Faced with a life-changing diagnosis, she defied the odds and triumphed over the common and often fatal disease with strength.
Commonly caused by long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix.
According to the HPV information centre, estimates indicate that every year in South Africa, 10 702 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 5 870 die from the disease. Cervical cancer also ranks as the second-most frequent cancer among women in South Africa and the first-most frequent cancer among women between the ages of 15 and 44.
A life-changing diagnosis
Born and bred in Newcastle, Kwazulu-Natal, Nxumalo (27) was diagnosed with cervical cancer in August 2018. Prior to her diagnosis, she had never heard of cervical cancer before and thought cancer-related illnesses were not for people of her skin colour.
“I had been sick for quite a while, and they weren’t successful in finding out what was wrong with me. So, when I was finally told, I really felt like I couldn’t put up with this. I wanted to die.
“Before being diagnosed, I experienced unexplained, prolonged bleeding. I’d go on my period for months; mind you, I was a very heavy bleeder. I would get weird discharges sometimes, but they would come right away, so I didn’t think much of them.”
After being diagnosed, Nxumalo recalls having the most painful memories of the experiences she had during her treatment.
“I underwent surgeries in combination with radiation therapy for a duration of nearly two months. Soon thereafter, I lost so much weight and my hair kept falling out. I looked like a walking skeleton and I’m still trying to recover weight-wise.
“I had to adjust my diet because of the side effects; my body wasn’t compatible with certain types of food, such as gluten. And now, I’m like super cautious of my uterine health; I notice every slight change before running to my gynaecologist.”
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Being cancer-free
In the midst of various treatments, they were able to get rid of the cancer in November 2018. Nxumalo mentions that what helped her become cancer-free were continuous prayers and being examined by amazing doctors.
“My doctors really knew what they were doing, but what carried me emotionally and spiritually were the constant prayers my close circle bestowed upon my life. They brought me so much hope that I would eventually get better, and I believed there was no way God wasn’t going to listen to so many people asking him for one thing.”
The fear of cancer recurrence has, however, been a difficult challenge she still faces, and she says it’s the hardest aspect of surviving the whole ordeal.
“I’m still trying to find ways to cope with the anxiety I go through every time I feel unwell, thinking it’s about to go down again. I’m only at peace when I’m not feeling sick, but as soon as I do, my mind goes into overdrive and I start assuming the worst.
Treatment torture
Another challenge was the treatment. I don’t think I’ll ever go through that amount of pain again in my life. The surgeries were endless, and they kept failing. I felt like I was watching my life slip away from my physical being. On top of that, I had to deal with the “sorry” look I was getting from people.
“Cervical cancer is associated with promiscuity, so the instant reaction I always received from people who found out was ‘Oh she’s been busy’, so at some point I was really scared of opening up about it.
“I also experienced miscarriages, and back then, I’d have consistent mental breakdowns because all I ever wanted since I was younger was to be a mom. I still want to be, but I’m more understanding of God’s will now and that we can plan, yes, but He decides.”
Nxumalo states that she will always appreciate how much the journey strengthened her relationship with God and her faith and how it reminded her how important it is to always listen to her body.
Prevention and early detection
“For others going through this, it’s definitely not the end. When detected early enough, the win is definitely guaranteed. GO GET THAT PAP SMEAR DONE! Yes, it is a tad uncomfortable, but you’re better off knowing if you’re okay than finding out you’re not at a much later stage.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most important things you can do to help prevent cervical cancer are to get vaccinated against HPV, have regular screening tests, and go back to the doctor if your screening test results are not normal.
“The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers,” reads an article by the CDC.
- HPV vaccination is recommended for preteens aged 11 to 12 years but can be given starting at age 9.
- HPV vaccine also is recommended for everyone through age 26 years, if they are not vaccinated already.
- HPV vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years as HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit, as more older people have already been exposed to HPV. However, some adults aged 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination.
Routine cervical cancer screening with HPV tests and Pap smear tests are also important ways to prevent cervical cancer. These tests can find abnormal cell changes and precancers that can be treated before they turn into cancer and can be done at your nearest clinic or hospital.
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