Thembekile Tsakani Hlongwane, a 17 year – old teenager was only 14 when she discovered she had cancer. She shares her survival story.
Where and how were you raised,and how was the environment?
I was born and raised in Soweto until the age of 10. We then moved to Davidsonville in Roodepoort. I grew up in a Christian family, with very strict parents. They raised me and my younger sister to be disciplined, respectful and loving to other people.
What were some of your dreams as a child?
I have always dreamt of becoming a doctor.
How old were you when you found out you had cancer?
I was 14 and in my first year of high school.
What type of cancer did you have?
Rhabdomyosarcoma (muscle) cancer
How did you find out you had cancer?
A very hard pimple appeared on my left labia in January, got bigger by September and caused a lot of discomfort and pain. I showed it to my mom and she took me to our family doctor, but she couldn’t tell us what was wrong. We were referred to a gynaecologist at Tshepo-Themba Private Hospital where I was examined and later admitted so they could run a few tests because they were unsure of the problem. The next day a surgical procedure called a biopsy was done, which entailed cutting a little piece from my tumor to take to the lab for tests. I was told the cells were cancerous and immediately referred to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital.
What was the first thing that came to your mind when you found out?
I was not surprised, but was scared and had a lot of mixed emotions.
Did you ever think you would survive? Were there moments where you felt like giving up? If so, what made you carry on?
Yes and no. In the hospital ward there were a lot of kids much younger than me who didn’t understand what was happening to them. Being around them and seeing them go through such a difficult time made me stronger. I often told myself that I had to beat the cancer, and that through God who heals all diseases, I would be whole again.
Besides things like faith, where did you draw your strength from?
Firstly, my God was with me. My family, friends from school and my church were very supportive, even though chemotherapy was extremely difficult for me and made me a difficult person at times. They understood what I was going through. My cousin Khensani Mabasa shaved her hair off so she could look like me in order to show her support – I will never forget that. CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation was also very supportive during that difficult time. I had to go for radiation and we stayed at a CHOC house for six weeks except on weekends. During that time, I was taken to the hospital for treatment every day and brought back to the house. This really helped a lot and all the people at the house were very kind to me.
How do you live your life now as an example of knowing that things can turn around so quickly? Do you still live like you did before the cancer?
I am improving my life every day. I focus on a healthy lifestyle and support those who are still fighting cancer. I am now more caring to people around me.
How was the treatment/medication? Did it affect you somehow?
It was horrible! I always found myself asking God: “When am I going to finish? When is this storm coming to an end?”
My self-esteem was low because my hair fell out due to chemotherapy and my immune system was weak. I was pale, lost weight and couldn’t eat anything. I always felt nauseous and moody. Above all, I felt like I was not a normal human being.
How long did you have to take the medication?
A year and one month.
What advice would you give to young people who might be going through something similar?
Be positive. Believe that you will be able to beat the cancer. Have faith that God will heal you or will help you go through treatment. It is not easy, but with God on your side you will definitely go through it and survive. On your last day of treatment, you will feel that you’ve conquered the world. Above all, I encourage children to tell their parents or guardian as soon as possible if they find something unusual on their body.
