Oct-Nov 2024: Season of growth

Seasons of growth, what a great title. Let’s create our own personal playlist about growth; send in your suggestions and we’ll choose the best-liked playlist.

I remember at school learning this song: In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise. At a moment in my life when the world is new.

Well I’m in that season where my kids send info on super-aging and the youngest has fled the coop. How about Landslide by Fleetwood Mac? 

Louise Turner epitomises the phrase Super Survivor. Through her many seasons from being diagnosed young and now being at almost 20 years out has proven that growth is the most important part of life. Lou, this song is for you: Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson. 

We learn from every experience, positive or negative, and internal growth is what it’s all about. 

I have learnt that I’m still confused by The murky waters of medical aids and insurance; Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day. 

Thanks Lucie for looking at When the dressings come off; Let It Be by The Beatles or Man in The Mirror by Michael Jackson. 

As we all deal with Survivor guilt, Born This Way by Lady Gaga and Struggle with Body Issues, The Climb by Miley Cyrus, we can Rise Up by Andra Day as we deal with those issues. To all of you amazing, people don’t forget, The Eye of The Tiger by Survivor, I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, Beautiful by Christina Aguilera and We Are the Champions by Queen because you are beautiful surviving champions. This is my playlist for all of you. 

Your Buddie For Life
Prof Carol-Ann Benn

Cover by Mandy Steenkamp Photography | Follow @mandysteenkampphotography

SUPER SURVIVORS

Louise Turner – The healer and teacher

Louise Turner, the director of Breast Health Foundation, shares her story of having two cancer ...

BHF NEWS

International award to help BHF improve breast cancer knowledge in SA

Breast Health Foundation (BHF) will over the year scale up its ambitious programme to improve ...

Thato Moncho – Living for the future

Thato Moncho believes that if she had received radiation in 2021 when she was supposed ...

Devi Chetram – The boost that I needed

Breast cancer survivor, Devi Chetram, tells us how Lifegain Advanced Nutritional Supplement aided her recovery ...

TREATMENT

When the dressings come off

Dr Lucienne van Schalkwyk explains what to expect when the dressings come off after breast ...

What is DIEP flap breast reconstruction?

Dr Johan van Heerden educates us on DIEP flap reconstruction, the gold standard in autologous ...

The murky waters of medical aids and insurance

Prof Carol-Ann Benn elaborates on diving into the murky waters of medical aids and insurance in the ...

LIFESTYLE

Intermittent pneumatic compression machines

Isabeau Neethling gives insight to intermittent pneumatic compression machines and their effects on cancer-related lymphoedema. You ...

High protein and high kilojoule smoothies

Dietitian Meagan Atcheson shares power play ingredients to make high protein and high kilojoule smoothies. ...

AWARENESS

Newly diagnosed with breast cancer: what to do

Dr Cattleya Gaspar explains how to understand your breast cancer type, how it may be ...

Which psychosocial therapy suits you?

Nadia Booysen looks at the various psychosocial therapies and explains which one is best for ...

Survivor guilt – ogres and onions

Sandra Bollen-Hughes uses Shrek’s analogy of being like an onion and having layers to explain ...

The struggle of body issues and cancer

Gabriella Kourie unpacks the reality of body issues during and after cancer treatment. You can ...

Mandy Steenkamp – The right exposure

We pay tribute to Mandy Steenkamp, the skilled photographer, who captures the most stunning images ...

Meet the TOP Dogs

We learn how TOP Dogs are bringing much joy and stress relief to oncology patients. You can ...


This issue is all about the Season of growth and when hearing Helen Fivelman’s story The beauty of life and Lize Truter’s story Defying the odds, I’m amazed by how they were given a certain timeframe of life and inspired that they didn’t accept it and have proven that timeframe wrong. There can only be growth when faced with such situations.



In the 2024 Big C Survivor’s Guide, we focus on preparing for treatment; as we are well aware of the anxiety and overwhelming emotions that come part and parcel with a cancer diagnosis and facing treatment.

Thank you to the great group of healthcare experts who have shared their knowledge from their respected medical fields and much gratitude to the advertisers who have come onboard to support our 2024 Big C Survivor’s Guide booklet.