Buddies For Life

Overcoming cancer-related fatigue

Gabriella Kourie elaborates on how to overcome cancer-related fatigue. Gabriella Kourie is a qualified occupational therapist. She further trained and qualified as a PORi oncology and breast cancer rehabilitation therapist and is currently qualifying in Lymphoedema Assessment and Treatment.

4 Dec 2023 5 min

Nutrition questions to ask your care team

Dietitian Meagan Atcheson shares a list of nutrition questions that you can ask your care team and gives her advice respectively. Meagan Atcheson is a registered dietitian who focuses specifically in oncology. She is a plant-centric foodie who promotes a nourishing approach to health and wellness, using evidence-based research and…

4 Dec 2023 5 min

De-escalation of oncology care

Professor Carol-Ann Benn examines the timelines of oncology care and how changes in treatment have resulted in our modern-day approach. Prof Carol-Ann Benn heads up an internationally accredited, multi-disciplinary breast cancer centre at Netcare Milpark Hospital. She lectures at Wits University and, in 2002, established the Breast Health Foundation.

4 Dec 2023 14 min

Swimming in my sixties

Shaunize Lundall has been in remission for almost 15 years and at the age of 62 she is learning how to swim. She shares why she decided to do this and how it has impacted her life.

4 Dec 2023 5 min

Can prior radiation cause breast cancer?

Dr Mia Hugo answers this complex question; ultimately there is a minute chance, however, it's far outweighed by the risk of cancer you are currently facing. Dr Mia Hugo works in private practice as a radiation oncologist. She participates in weekly multi-disciplinary oncology team meetings for breast, urology, gastrointestinal, gynaecological,…

4 Dec 2023 6 min

Hair loss during cancer treatment

Dr Rakesh Newaj educates us on hair loss during cancer treatment and offers ways to prevent it, as well as hair growth options after treatment. Dr Rakesh Newaj is a specialist dermatologist with a special interest in skin surgeries. Since qualifying in 2010, he practices in Waterkloof, Benoni, Kempton Park,…

4 Dec 2023 4 min

Cold caps saved 90% of my hair

Lebré Neetling details the excellent results she got by using cold caps during chemotherapy to prevent hair loss.

4 Dec 2023 3 min

Gut health, a key to wellness

Melody Fourie educates us on how the right foods can improve gut health which, in turn, is a key to wellness. Melody Fourie is an AADP board-certified holistic health practitioner and transformational nutritionist. She holds a BSc in Holistic Nutrition and Botanical Medicine, a Master of Natural Medicine, and a…

4 Dec 2023 4 min

Why should you learn new hobbies?

Nadia Booysen, an oncology counsellor, explains how learning new hobbies can recreate your wheel of life. Nadia Booysen is a cancer survivor and an oncology counsellor with a BSW Hons Social Work UP, BA Hons Psychology Unisa, PGDip PallMed UCT. She consults at the DMO practices: Sandton Oncology and the…

4 Dec 2023 4 min

Where are they now?

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, two of our previous Super Survivors, Michele Ferreira and Lizel Wheller, catch us up on what’s transpired since sharing their stories. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education for breast cancer. The…

2 Oct 2023 5 min

Silent opportunity to honour my mom and her fighting spirit

Antoinette van Staden shares why she gives up her time to capture the cover images of Buddies For Life pro bono: her mother, Hanna Boshoff, passed away from metastatic breast cancer. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education for…

2 Oct 2023 5 min

Use of the Sentimag® guidance system in East Africa

Since May 2021, Dr Marek Ostrowski, a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon in Nairobi, Kenya, has been using the Sentimag® guidance system to accurately localise lymph nodes and tumours in surgery. Dr Mariusz Marek Ostrowski (MD, PhD, FEBS) (Breast), is a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon practising in Nairobi, Kenya. He has…

2 Oct 2023 5 min

Fruits and vegetables: cancer-fighting foods

Dietitian Berna Harmse explains the reason why fruit and vegetables are cancer-fighting foods. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education for breast cancer. THE DIAMOND CHANNEL is running a campaign with The Breast Health Foundation. For more information contact…

2 Oct 2023 6 min

Why me?

Prof Carol-Ann Benn unlocks the genetic code of who gets breast cancer to resolve the 'why me' question. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education for breast cancer. THE DIAMOND CHANNEL is running a campaign with The Breast Health…

2 Oct 2023 14 min

There is still so much to look forward to

Carol Ann Feher details how a recurrence caught her off guard after being in remission for 18 years. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education for breast cancer. THE DIAMOND CHANNEL is running a campaign with The Breast Health…

2 Oct 2023 5 min

Kgaugelo Moyo - always trust your gut

Kgaugelo Moyo shares her story of trusting her gut and going for a third opinion when her intuition told her that the lump in her breast was something to be worried about. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education…

2 Oct 2023 6 min

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

Sandra Bollen-Hughes, counselling psychologist and breast cancer survivor, unpacks what makes a person brave. This episode is brought to you by THE DIAMOND CHANNEL with the purpose of raising awareness and education for Breast Cancer. THE DIAMOND CHANNEL is running a campaign with The Breast Health Foundation. For more information…

2 Oct 2023 5 min

Metastatic Breast Cancer - Frequently Asked Questions

The Breast Health Foundation shares the most frequently asked questions in their metastatic breast cancer support group, Meta Buddies. The Breast Health Foundation is a Not for Profit established in April 2002. They educate the public on breast cancer and breast health, increase awareness, and empower women. NATIONAL SUPPORT NUMBER…

2 Oct 2023 4 min

Radiation - the invisible beam of hope

Dr Shivona Moodley helps us understand the necessary role of radiotherapy in the breast cancer treatment journey and why it's the invisible beam of hope. Dr Shivona Moodley has a special interest in head & neck and breast cancer but treats all disease sites. Dr Moodley works at the Sandton…

2 Oct 2023 6 min

Change of life: a rite of passage

Fiona Hardie expands on how pilates and breathwork can help welcome in the change of life and achieve overall wellness. This episode is brought to you by Astellas Oncology with the purpose of raising awareness and education on prostate cancer. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of the…

1 Aug 2023 5 min