Restoring Pride and Dignity…A beacon of hope for breast cancer survivors in Bulawayo

LOCAL NGO, Good News for Life Trust, has transformed the lives of 100 breast cancer survivors in Bulawayo by providing them with breast prostheses.

The devices grant a sense of normalcy and completeness to recipients who have undergone mastectomies.

Ms Precious Mpofu, one of the beneficiaries from Nketa 7, said she’d struggled for six years with makeshift materials to cover her lost breast until the prostheses, which matched her remaining breast and was more comfortable, allowed her to feel whole again.

Breast prostheses are expensive, and many survivors resort to makeshift products out of necessity.

“As women, a breast is something that makes us very proud. We value our breasts as they complete us as women. So, I lost one of my breasts to breast cancer in 2017 and it was very uncomfortable, especially when using a make-shift product as opposed to getting prostheses,” said Ms Mpofu.

“I feel I was restored when Good News for Life Trust donated a prostheses to me as it easily matches my other breast. It is soft and comfortable; unlike the cloth used by breast cancer survivors.

“We have a WhatsApp group of about 107 breast cancer survivors. However, 80 percent of the survivors in that group do not have prostheses. They are expensive and most survivors cover themselves with clothes, among other makeshift things, hence this donation restored us as women,” she said.

Another breast cancer survivor, Ms Rejoice Moyo, pronounced how the donation had restored dignity to women who had lost confidence due to the loss of a breast.

“Breast cancer survivors experience a lot of challenges and the challenge starts with accessing treatment.

“Some of them are even afraid to remove the breast, costing them their lives,” she said.

“So, that event we held with Mrs Shine Ndebele was an eye opener to some women as it has become an educational platform on breast cancer, among other forms of cancer, and chemotherapy treatment of various other cancers. Women were encouraged to seek early treatment to beat the cancer.”

Mrs Ndebele also stressed the importance of breasts in women.

“It’s one of the things that one looks at when approaching a woman. Breast cancer survivors had lost their confidence as their breasts were uneven,” she said.

“They had lost their dignity and could no longer face the world, but following that donation, they will be able to live a normal life and their confidence will be boosted.”

Good News for Life Trust chief executive officer, Mrs Shine Ndebele, emphasised the importance of providing emotional and physical support to mastectomy patients.

She said the initiative was not just about distributing prostheses, but also about educating women about breast cancer and the critical need for early detection.

“After discussing with the team we saw it fit to buy breast prostheses for women who had undergone breast mastectomy. On August 3 these prostheses were distributed to women in Bulawayo. We managed to buy 100 pieces for 100 women,” she said.

Mrs Ndebele said breast prostheses are critical as they provide emotional and physical support to individuals who have undergone a mastectomy, helping to restore their confidence and self-image.

“For many, access to prosthetic breasts after mastectomy can make the process of recovery less stressful by offering a sense of normalcy and completeness,” she said.

Mrs Ndebele said the service plays a vital role in helping mastectomy patients adapt to life post-surgery, providing a non-surgical option to balance their appearance in clothes.

The Trust’s efforts extend beyond prostheses, as it plans to continue fundraising to support cancer patients in Zimbabwe with essential treatments, including chemotherapy.

Its work plays a vital role in ensuring that breast cancer survivors can lead normal lives with restored confidence, regardless of their socio-economic background.

“We will continue working hard by partnering with other organisations, and well-wishers and applying for grants even when we go back to the UK to raise funds for purchasing chemotherapy medication for our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe,” said Mrs Ndebele.

Good News for Life Trust was founded by UK-based couple Mr Mqondisi Ndebele and his wife Shine, along with their partner Mr Ruhana Masuku. — @nqotshili