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Technology may operate behind the scenes, but the people behind it can have a profound impact on the lives of people affected by cancer. In Episode 3 of the Living with Cancer South Africa Lived Experience Podcast Series, Dr Belinda Wagner speaks to Adri Faasen, a technology volunteer who works in cybersecurity and threat intelligence. Adri shares why she chose to use her professional skills to support Living with Cancer South Africa and how her role has helped strengthen the organisation’s approach to cybersecurity, information security and the protection of sensitive patient information. As Living with Cancer South Africa continues to build South Africa’s first patient-led cancer registry, protecting the information entrusted to us is critical. Adri explains why patient data must be treated with care and respect, and whysecurity needs to be considered from the moment information is collected. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. Adrireflects on what volunteering has taught her about cancer, the experiences that have stayed with her and the importance of remembering that behind every piece of data is a person. She also explores the potential of artificial intelligence and digital innovation to make healthcare more accessible, efficient andresponsive, while reminding us that technology can never replace human connection. Her message to other professionals is simple: you do not need endless amounts of time to make a difference. Your knowledge, experience and professional skills can become powerful tools for social impact. As Adri says, “Every volunteer counts, every person counts.” Whether your expertise is in technology, cybersecurity, marketing, finance, project management or another professional field, there is an opportunity to use what you know to help make a difference. Listen to Adri’s conversation and discover what canhappen when professional expertise meets purpose

In this heartfelt episode of the Living with Cancer South Africa Podcast, Dr Belinda Wagner speaks with Colleen King, whose cancer journey is a powerful reminder that while every diagnosis is unique, no one should have to face it alone.   Drawing on both her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor and her professional background as an intensive care nurse, Colleen shares the emotional reality of receiving herdiagnosis, the challenges of treatment, and the unexpected impact cancer had on her life. Colleen also speaks openly about the value of finding a community that understands. She explains how joining Livingwith Cancer South Africa connected her with others who had walked a similar path, offering encouragement, reassurance and hope when it was needed most.   This conversation is an honest and uplifting reminder that cancer may change your life, but it can also reveal resilience, compassion and the extraordinary power of human connection.

Some cancer journeys are long and marked by months of treatment. Others unfold with astonishing speed, changing life in a matter of weeks. In this heartfelt episode of What Cancer Reveals, Chantel Singh shares her experience of being diagnosed with cervical cancer after years of abnormal test results, unexpected symptoms and the discovery of a tumour that changed everything. Although her treatment consisted of surgery rather than chemotherapy or radiation, Chantal explains that a cancer diagnosis affects every part of your life. From the shock of hearing the word "cancer" to facing the loss of future dreams and learning to live with uncertainty, she reflects honestly on the emotional impact of her diagnosis. Throughout the conversation, Chantal speaks openly about the fears she faced, the importance of faith, and how strength is not something we always find within ourselves, but often something we borrow from others. She shares how the Living with Cancer South Africa support community became far more than a support group. It became a family that stood beside her during the moments when she needed encouragement, understanding and hope.   This episode also highlights the importance of cervical cancer awareness, regular screening and Human Papillomavirus vaccination, reminding listeners that early detection cansave lives. Most importantly, Chantel leaves us with a powerful message for anyone facing cancer today: you do not have to walk this journey alone. Hope often begins with a conversation, a shared story and the knowledge that someone else understands exactly what you are going through. Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, faith,family, community and discovering hope through shared experiences.

At 24 years old, Caitlin Carpenter was building her future,studying towards her law degree, working full time and planning the next chapter of her life when everything changed with a cancer diagnosis. In this episode of Lived Experience, Caitlin shares the reality of facing Hodgkin's Lymphoma as a young adult and the profound impact it had on her education, career plans, friendships, independence and future aspirations. She speaks candidly about the isolation of watching peers move forward while life is placed on hold, navigating conversations about dating and the future, and confronting mortality at an age when most people feel invincible. The conversation explores the unique challenges younger cancer patients face, including the assumptions others make about young people with cancer, the emotional impact of disrupted life plans and the gaps that still exist in support for younger adults navigating diagnosis and treatment. Through honesty, humour and remarkable resilience, Caitlin offers valuable insight into what it means to be young and diagnosed, reminding us that cancer does not only affect health. It changes timelines, expectations and the future we imagine for ourselves. Lived Experience is a podcast series by Living with Cancer SA, sharing the authentic voices of patients, survivors and caregivers to create greater understanding, connection and hope.

In this moving episode of What Cancer Reveals About Patient to Purpose, Dr Belinda Wagner speaks with Barrie van den Berg, Director of Living with Cancer South Africa, about a journey that transformed both his life and his purpose. Having spent many years working in the pharmaceutical industry supporting cancer treatment, Barrie understood cancer from a clinical perspective long before receiving his own prostate cancer diagnosis. Becoming a patient changed everything. It taught him that cancer is never just a disease.It is a deeply personal journey that affects families, relationships and entire support networks. Barrie reflects on what it means to move from treating cancer as a medical condition to understanding the human experience behind every diagnosis. He shares how his own experience strengthened his commitment to patient advocacy, why no one should face cancer alone, and how volunteering with Living with Cancer South Africa has become part of his own healing journey. This episode is a powerful reminder that every patient deserves to be seen as a person, that hope grows through community, and that purpose can emerge from even life's most difficult challenges. Whether you are living with cancer, supporting someone you love, or working in healthcare, this conversation offers encouragement, wisdom and a reminder that together we can change the cancer journey. Learn more about Living with Cancer South Africa andjoin our growing community at https://livingwithcancersa.co.za.

Cancer does not only affect the person diagnosed. It ripplesthrough families, friendships and entire support networks, leaving loved onesto navigate fear, uncertainty, helplessness and hope alongside the patient. Inthis deeply moving conversation, Belinda Wagner speaks with Moira about theexperience of watching those she loves face cancer, including her father,grandson, daughter-in-law and brother. Together, they explore the emotional weight of witnessingsuffering, the challenge of wanting to fix what cannot be fixed, and theprofound lesson of learning to simply be present. Through stories of family,faith, resilience and love, this episode reveals how cancer can strengthenrelationships, deepen compassion and remind us that sometimes the greatest giftwe can offer is not to rescue, but to hold space. A powerful conversation about hope, faith, love and the courage towalk beside those we love through life's most difficult journeys.

In Episode 6 of the What Cancer Reveals podcast series, Dr BelindaWagner speaks with Natalie Singer about her deeply personal journey through arare gastric blood cancer diagnosis and the emotional reality of navigatingtreatment while trying to maintain control over work, family and everyday life. Natalie shares how her diagnosis challenged her identity as ahigh-performing, independent and self-sufficient person, forcing her toconfront the difficult lessons of surrender, vulnerability and accepting help.From balancing motherhood and a demanding career during treatment, to theemotional impact of uncertainty, delayed results and scan anxiety, this episodeexplores the hidden mental and emotional weight that often accompanies cancer. Through honest reflection, Natalie speaks about resilience, thepressure many people place on themselves to “keep going”, and the importance ofgiving yourself grace during difficult seasons. This conversation is a powerfulreminder that cancer does not only reveal physical vulnerability, it revealswho we are beneath the strength we show the world.

In this powerful episode of What Cancer Reveals, Anton shares his journey following his diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma in 2021 and Stage 1 kidney cancer in 2022. He speaks openly about the physical impact of cancer, the dramatic weight loss he experienced, the importance of support, and the reality of navigating a healthcare system that does not always fully capture patient experiences. This episode explores the gaps in cancer data, the patients who become invisible within the system, and why accurate patient stories matter for care, policy, funding and advocacy. A conversation about survival, resilience, gratitude and the importance of ensuring every cancer story counts.

In this episode of What Cancer Reveals, Kesavan Govender shares his inspiring journey through testicular cancer and the lessons it taught him about resilience, hope and the power of survival. First diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2010, Kesavan faced a challenging road that included surgery, treatment and ongoing medical surveillance. While follow-up scans initially showed no evidence of disease, a CT scan in 2013 detected a metastatic germ cell tumour, leading to further treatment and another chapter in his cancer journey. Throughout these experiences, Kesavan placed his trust in his medical team, leaned on the support of family and faith, and remained committed to his recovery. More than a decade later and now in remission, he reflects on how cancer changed his perspective on life and revealed strengths he never knew he possessed. Kesavan speaks openly about the importance of recognising early warning signs, seeking medical attention promptly and attending regular health screenings. His story highlights how early detection, informed decision-making and access to appropriate care can significantly influence outcomes. At a time when many cancer conversations are understandably filled with fear and uncertainty, Kesavan offers a message of hope. He reminds us that while cancer can change the course of our lives, it does not have to define our future. His experience demonstrates that survival is possible, support matters and that there is life beyond a cancer diagnosis. This episode also shines a light on an important issue, particularly for men, who often delay medical check-ups or avoid difficult conversations about their health. Kesavan's journey reinforces the importance of being proactive, listening to your body and seeking help when something does not feel right. Through honest reflection and lived experience, What Cancer Reveals About Hope, Healing and Survival is a powerful reminder that cancer can reveal courage, perspective, gratitude and an unwavering appreciation for life.

In this episode of What Cancer Reveals, Dr Belinda Wagner speaks with her oncologist, Dr Trudy Smith, the specialist who finally provided answers after months of uncertainty. Dr Smith is an Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Gynaecological Oncologist, trained at the University of the Witwatersrand with further experience in gynaecological oncology in London. She now practises at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and is actively involved in training future specialists, while advocating for the prevention of cervical cancer. Together, they unpack the importance of second opinions, understanding cancer spread, and the difficult decisions patients are forced to make. The conversation also explores the emotional impact on doctors, the intensity of surgery, emerging treatments like cyber radiation, and why cancer is not a death sentence.

In this episode, Dr Belinda Wagner sits down with Moira Keymer, whose cancer journey began 23 years ago with a breast cancer diagnosis that would not only challenge her physically, but reshape her understanding of health, faith and personal responsibility. Moira speaks about her experience through a deeply personal lens, describing her diagnosis as a calling from God, a test of faith that required her to confront fear, uncertainty and the unknown. Rather than allowing the experience to define her negatively, she chose to engage with it with intention and belief.What makes her story particularly powerful is what unfolded alongside her cancer diagnosis. Through the process, she uncovered an underlying autoimmune condition, something that may have remained undetected without that moment of intervention. For Moira, this became part of a broader realisation that sometimes the most difficult experiences can reveal what needs attention in our lives.A central theme in this conversation is the importance of early detection and timely diagnosis. Moira speaks candidly about how critical it is to act early, to pay attention to your body, and not to delay seeking medical advice. Her message is clear, awareness is not optional, it is essential.She also highlights the importance of trusting healthcare providers while remaining actively engaged in your own care. This is not about passive acceptance, but about informed partnership. Moira encourages patients and families to ask questions, seek clarity, and take the time to understand their condition.Research and communication are recurring threads throughout the discussion. She emphasises that no one should feel intimidated to speak up, whether it is asking for a second opinion, discussing treatment options, or simply reaching out for support. Silence, she suggests, can often be more harmful than the diagnosis itself.This episode is not only about surviving cancer. It is about perspective, faith, and the responsibility we carry in our own health journeys. Moira’s story is a reminder that knowledge, communication and early action can fundamentally change outcomes, and that even in life’s most difficult moments, there is an opportunity for deeper understanding and growth.

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Keymer, who serves as the Security Lead for Living with Cancer SA, not just as a volunteer, but as someone deeply connected to the reality of cancer. Richard’s story is not theoretical. It is lived. He shares his personal journey of supporting multiple family members through cancer, including both his parents, his nephew, and his sister-in-law. Through these experiences, he has witnessed the complexity, the uncertainty, and the emotional weight that cancer brings into a family. What stands out in this conversation is not only the scale of what he has faced, but how he has chosen to respond. Richard speaks openly about why he continues to show up and contribute to Living with Cancer SA. His perspective is grounded in responsibility, empathy, and a clear understanding that support systems matter, not just for patients, but for families navigating the journey alongside them. From his role in security and governance within the organisation, to his personal reflections on resilience and presence, this episode offers a different lens on cancer. One that highlights the unseen roles, the quiet strength, and the people who stand behind the scenes ensuring others are protected, supported, and not alone. This is a conversation about service, perspective, and the kind of leadership that is shaped not in boardrooms, but in real life moments that demand courage and consistency.

In this episode of What Cancer Reveals, the focus shifts to the decisions cancer forces people to make, long after treatment ends. Jason, a busy executive known for his discipline, privacy and active lifestyle, steps into a space of vulnerability rarely seen inleadership contexts. In this conversation, he shares his experience of navigating prostate cancer and the complex, often unspoken decisions that followed. While treatment is often positioned as the defining moment in a cancer journey, Jason reveals that some of the hardest decisions come afterwards. Decisions that carry weight, permanence and uncertainty. Decisions about work, identity, relationships and what life looks like moving forward. He reflects on how much of this process had to be figured out alone, with limited guidance and no clear roadmap. The choices he faced were not always clinical, but deeply personal, shaped by fear, fatigue and the pressure to return to normal. Through his story, this episode explores the reality that survivorship is not a clean endpoint. It is a space filled with ongoing decisions, many of which feel irreversible at the time they are made. Jason also challenges a common misconception. That once treatment is complete, the journey is over. Instead, he highlights the quiet complexity of what comes next and the support that is often missing when patients need it most. This episode reveals that cancer is not only about survival. It is about the choices that define how life continues afterwards.

The first episode of What Cancer Reveals explores one of the most profound shifts cancer brings into people’s lives: the way it changes our relationship with time. In this deeply personal conversation, Brenda Errayah reflects on the loss of her mother, Connie, eight years ago. Over the course of six difficult months, Brenda witnessed the painful transformation of a woman she had always known as strong and invincible into someone gradually diminished by illness. What was once certainty slowly gave way to fragility, forcing Brenda and her family to confront the reality that time can change suddenly and without warning. Through Brenda’s story, this episode explores how cancer reshapes the way families experience time. Moments that once felt ordinary become precious, while the future that once seemed predictable becomes uncertain. Brenda speaks openly about the emotional weight of watching a loved one decline, the helplessness many families feel during this process, and the lasting impact those months leave behind. Yet her reflection also carries an important message about connection. Brenda emphasises that cancer is never experienced by one person alone. It is a journey that affects families, friends and communities. During times of illness and loss, she believes people need to come together, to support one another and to stand alongside those facing unimaginable change. This episode sets the tone for the series by revealing that cancer does more than challenge the body. It changes how we measure life, how we hold the people we love, and how we understand the value of time.

Friendships and family relationships are often deeply affected by a cancer diagnosis. In this episode, Tamlyn Wessels shares her personal journey from discovering a lump to facing aggressive triple negative breast cancer while simultaneously preparing to say goodbye to her terminally ill father. Through chemotherapy, major surgery, radiation, and profound grief, she reflects on the friendships that faded, the bonds that strengthened, and the boundaries she had to learn to protect her healing. This honest conversation explores abandonment, resilience, meaningful support, and what survivors truly need from those around them. It is a powerful reminder that cancer does not only test the body, it reveals the true depth of human connection.