Naziziphiwo Buso
After losing two of her uncles, aunt and brother to different forms of cancer, a Nelson Mandela Bay mom said her worst fear came true when she too was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago.
Fifty-four-year-old Bongiwe Malandela, from Kwazakhele said her fear suddenly changed into hope when she was told she would be operated on, this Saturday as part of Project Flamingo.
Malandela is just one of seven other women who will undergo this life saving procedure.
The non-profit organisation, Project Flamingo fills the long wait for mastectomy surgeries with what they call "Catch-up Surgery lists" where Drs, nurses and some hospital staff perform free surgeries for women in need, on weekends.
This alleviates the strain on State hospitals so that other women can be treated before it is too late.
Malandela told Algoa FM News that she had been asking doctors, since her diagnosis to have the plans for her procedure expedited.
"The nurse at the clinic told me that I could get a date for next year- which traumatised me so much that I lost weight."
Malandela who has a 13-year-old son says she has lost too many family members and just wanted to put this ordeal behind her.
One of Project Flamingo's Core Medical Volunteers, Dr Lwazi Nongogo said so far this year they had performed over 60 mastectomies.
Nongogo who also runs the breast care unit at Livingstone Hospital told Algoa FM News that patients chosen are selected from the multi-disciplinary clinic run that takes place at the hospital on Wednesdays.
Candidates should be young and not diabetic.
Project Flamingo has about eight doctors, 12 nursing staff and porters who assist.
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