Pink power

• Published date: 19 October 2022
• Publication title: Bolander

Marli du Toit, 44, is a Capetonian mother of two and a model, actor, and writer. She is also the brand ambassador for South Africa’s oldest breast cancer NPO – Reach for Recovery

Marli’s own story is one many will relate to. She first felt a lump in her breast in July 2019. A mammogram and two consecutive ultrasounds followed.

Due to her relatively young age, no known family history of breast cancer, and no known genetic predisposition to the disease, Marli’s medical deemed the likelihood of a breast cancer diagnosis as low.

Thus, at that stage, no biopsy was performed.

Then in April 2020 during the hard lockdown, she finally had the time to focus on this gnawing concern. The lump was still there.

Something didn’t feel right, so Marli booked herself in for a biopsy and was floored to be very suddenly diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive lobular carcinoma.

Attending each appointment alone, due to COVID protocol, she was advised to do an immediate double mastectomy and aggressive chemo.

Then, upon further testing, it was discovered that Marli’s breast cancer had in fact already progressed to Stage 2B.

Things were even more serious than anyone would ever have expected.

“You never think it’s going to be you – and then suddenly there it was. Me! With breast cancer.

“I was that one in 27 South African women who got diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

“I was completely floored to be honest. I was 42 years old, recently divorced, and found myself sequestered at home in hard lockdown with a 2-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter,” remembers Marli.

“It was also a brutal awakening that breast cancer is all around us. I sent my sister for a mammogram just after that, which ended up saving her life. She was 39 and had breast cancer too.

“In addition, Ankia tested positive for the high-risk BRCA 2 gene which greatly increases one’s risk of developing the disease.”

The sisters are now united in their pursuit to raise greater awareness.

The road to recovery

How did Marli cope with, and navigate her diagnosis?

“For me, it was all about research. I went crazy reading as much as I could about the condition and the best ways to treat it. I was adamant that I was going to pull through. And I am, I have. I am surviving.

“I’ve had a double mastectomy. I’ve done chemo, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy, and as of August 2022, there are no signs of cancer in my system. But that doesn’t mean the battle is over,” says Marli with a wry smile. “For me, it’s just begun!”

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