My name is Anele. I am writing to you as we are at our financial end and need help. My sister, Amanda Botha, was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, one of the fastest growing and most aggressive forms of breast cancer in May 2025 at the age of 46.

In January 2024, she visited a gynecologist, due to persistent problems. An ablation operation only provided relief for 6 months. The symptoms returned worse than before, and she underwent a complete hysterectomy in October 2024.

On the 5th of November 2024, her husband and her son left for America for work & to relocate. She and her two daughters (age 17 and 19) would join them later. Over Christmas in 2024 her husband became life-threateningly ill and ended up in a hospital in Miami for 2 weeks. She was alone in SA, scared, powerless and that is when her stress began. The doctors said that is what triggered the cancer. Apparently stress makes triple-negative cancer grow incredibly fast.

With the help of my parents, she managed to travel to the US on the 11th of February 2025, but without a support network there, she got homesick & realized that she made a mistake and returned to SA on the 19th of February 2025. They moved in with my parents until she could find a job. She was lucky enough to get her old job back. But by this time the lump in her breast grew rapidly.

She went for a mammogram on the 15th of May, they did the Biopsy on the 27th of May and confirmed that she had Triple-Negative Breast Cancer on the 30th of May. She contacted the BCCE and reached out to Prof. Carol Benn, who referred her for 6 chemotherapy sessions. She also had to have CT scans, MRI and Cardiologist tests done. Luckily her heart was declared healthy enough to start the chemo.

Medical History and Timeline of Diagnosis

15 May 2025 – Mammogram & Sonar performed (can show the report).

27 May 2025 – Biopsy performed (can show the pathology report).

30 May 2025 – Diagnosis confirmed: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (Histology can provide proof).

9 June 2025 – Consulted with Prof. Carol Benn (BCCE Hospital), referred to Oncologist Prof. Rapoport.

19 June 2025 – First oncology consultation with Prof. Rapoport, treatment plan discussed.

11 July 2025 – First chemotherapy session administered (paid out of pocket: R15,000, receipt to prove it).

1 August 2025 – Second chemotherapy session (paid out of pocket: R15,000, receipt to prove it)

22 August 2025 – Third chemotherapy session (paid out of pocket: R15,000, receipt to prove it).

12 September 2025 – Forth chemotherapy session (paid out of pocket: R15,000, receipt to prove it).

10 October 2025 – Fifth chemotherapy session (paid out of pocket: R15,000, receipt to prove it).

31 October 2025 – Sixth chemotherapy session (paid out of pocket: R15,000, receipt to prove it).

The chemo took all her hair, her taste and stole all of her energy. She says it felt like it attacked her identity, but she reminds herself with every chemo session that she is fighting for her kids.

Due to the medical aid that refused to pay, we had to start begging for money. Between the family and friends that we all have, we managed to get enough money together to pay for her 6 sessions (but it was really tough).

The 6 chemos was R94 290.00

The 3 ultrasounds was R5 100.00

The 2 Cardiologist was R4 600.00

Total of self-payment was R103 990.00

Without the help of family, friends and some strangers, we would never have made it.

This leaves us with our predicament now; The surgeon is ready to remove the tumor, but the medical again refuses to cover the surgery, anesthetic, or the hospital, which is another whopping R110 000.00 (we have all the invoices to prove it). Without the surgery, the 6 chemo sessions would mean nothing.

Our funds are exhausted. We are all broke. If I had the money, I would pay it in a heartbeat. But unfortunately I don't. If I could take her pain, I would. I really love my sister, and I do not want to lose her. I need her. She is my rock.

Please. The donations will be used for the Surgeon, Hospital, Anesthetists, Post-operative care, Final scans etc.

We would also like to thank every single person who has helped this far. You are all angels, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would never be able to say exactly how much it meant to us.

Thank you so much