Phentisilia Dollie, a 29-year-old mother of two young daughters from Ennerdale, Johannesburg, is displaying immense courage in her battle against breast cancer.
Her journey, filled with both highs and lows, began in January 2023 with mysterious skin outbreaks initially diagnosed as ‘chicken pox.’ These outbreaks, following prescribed protocols, cleared within days. However, a mere three weeks later, another skin outbreak surfaced, localized to her arms, thighs, and legs, proving resistant to various treatments until a diagnostic skin scraping miraculously resolved it.
During this period of steroid treatment, Phentisilia noticed a small lump in her right breast. It wasn’t solid or painful, making it challenging to distinguish from normal breast tissue. Within a week, her right breast underwent a dramatic transformation, becoming hard and irregular.
Alarmed by these changes, she promptly scheduled a breast ultrasound at Lenmed on March 3, 2023, then an emergency mammogram on March 9, 2023 which revealed multiple abnormalities.
Phentisilia’s medical journey then led her to Helen Joseph Hospital’s Breast Clinic for further tests, including an axillary lymph node biopsy and a stereotactic needle biopsy.
It was on April 20, 2023, that Phentisilia Dollie received the words she had hoped never to hear: “You have breast cancer, and it has spread to at least one of your lymph nodes.” This diagnosis left her overwhelmed, angry, sad, and depressed, but she resolved to confront her battle with breast cancer head-on.
Undergoing treatment
Due to the aggressive nature of the cancer, Phentisilia was transferred to Charlotte Maxexe Hospital for chemotherapy treatment. A series of scans, including CT scans, heart scans, PET scans, and bone scans, assessed the extent of the disease, with the reassuring news that the cancer had not metastasized to other parts of her body.
Throughout her treatment, Phentisilia has drawn strength from her faith and the unwavering support of close family & friends. Even in the darkest moments, her faith remains unshaken, and she believes in the power of resilience. She eloquently stated,
“It is only in difficult times that our faith is really tested. I’ve realized that now is not the time to crumble in fear but to stand firm in faith… to stand strong upon the word of God, with an ongoing positive mindset for I know the outcome of this: a heartwarming testimony.”
Initially, her treatment plan comprised eight cycles of chemotherapy, but the tumor’s response prompted her oncologist to make adjustments. To pave the way for the necessary mastectomy surgery, Phentisilia will require an additional four cycles of chemotherapy, each accompanied by its own set of expenses.
To alleviate the financial burden of her treatment, Phentisilia has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to raise R16,000. These funds will be instrumental in covering the costs of her extended chemotherapy cycles and other essential medical expenses.
Phentisilia Dollie’s battle against breast cancer serves as a poignant reminder that, with the support of a caring community, even the most formidable challenges can be faced with hope and resilience.
Support Phentisilia on BackaBuddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/phentisilia-dollie
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