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.