Marisa 'eM' Louw

  It is my view that we all experience a measure of financial strain. That no living person is excluded from the stress brought about by money, or the lack thereof. The property magnate with billions in the bank may have it all but desire something that money can't buy. Not having that something perhaps leaves him sad and depressed. The middle-class mother of a single-parent family may drive a mid-market car but works two jobs to keep up with the repayment thereof. All for the sake of her children, to give them the best she can. She possibly cries quietly at night. The informal dweller may have less financial commitments but have to live from hand to mouth daily. Imagine waking up in the morning, not knowing where your next meal will come from. You have your financial challenges, and I have mine. Yesterday, my husband and I took a decision to put my cancer treatment on hold because we have to spend our money on other things that are more important, like food and shelter. Unless my ...

Tuesday, 3 March 2020 - On Friday I will be going for my last chemo session. After a double mastectomy in August last year, I underwent preventative chemotherapy since 25 October 2019, weekly, to help lower the risk of my breast cancer returning.  In combination with chemotherapy, I also receive a drug called Herceptin, every three weeks for 18 months. This drug attempts to block the HER2 protein receptors that cause cancer cells to grow. According to sources, only 1 in 5 breast cancers has this gene variation that produces a surplus of the HER2 protein.  And, because my cancer also tested positive for hormone receptors, from next month, I will start a 5 to 10-year treatment plan that suppresses my ovaries from producing estrogen. This involves an injection once every three months. In combination with the hormone-blocking therapy, I will also be taking a daily drug (Tamoxifen) that blocks estrogen from attaching to the receptor on the cancer cell. This prevents the cancer cel...