Mari’s Fight Against Inflammatory breast cancer

15 years ago my aunt fought her first battle with cancer. It was Lymphoma.

The cancer was back

Although the waiting list was extremely long she went through all the treatments needed and was in remission. Not in a million years did we think we would hear those words again. “It’s cancer” and not only that, it’s inflammatory breast cancer. A very rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.

Caregiving while sick

This was not how things were supposed to go. A few years ago my Aunt Mari had given up her job and became her 83 year old mother’s full-time caregiver. They had just sold the house they had been staying in and decided to move to a more peaceful area so that my grandmother can live the time she has left in peace and tranquillity. The bad news came the very same day they moved away.

Not having health insurance

We live in South Africa. If you don’t have health insurance then the odds are not in your favor. She was informed by the private doctor who diagnosed her that she needs to try and come up with the funds to have the treatments done privately due to the aggressiveness of this cancer, she can not afford to wait.

It absolutely breaks my heart, not only does she have to deal with this diagnosis she also has to worry about if and how these treatments will be possible. My Aunt is the most caring and selfless person I know and I wish that there was something anything that I can do to make things a little bit easier for her.

This is our story.