Ilse Daneel, 51, has always been vigilant about the risk of cancer.
“My mother died from breast cancer in 2010. She was diagnosed in my matric year, and we walked her long and difficult cancer journey together. There has always been a quiet fear in the back of my mind that one day it would be my turn,” says Ilse, a busy systems implementation programme director and mother of two.
“I didn’t feel any trace of a lump when I went for my mammogram in November, but it picked up a small speck that led to an MRI scan, which revealed two suspicious lumps in my right breast and a third in my left. At the end of a nerve-wracking month, one of the lumps in my right breast was diagnosed as malignant. I had stage 1 breast cancer, and the memory of my mother’s long struggle was constantly with me.”
Barely three months after her diagnosis, Ilse has already completed her course of treatment as one of the first to benefit from the versatile latest offering in radiotherapy at Netcare Milpark Hospital, following surgery and breast reconstruction, as part of her recovery and survivorship journey.
Professor Duvern Ramiah, head of radiation oncology at the University of the Witwatersrand and global ambassador of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), explains that the installation of the state of the art Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator at Netcare Milpark Hospital represents a major step forward for cancer care in Gauteng.
“The TrueBeam system delivers highly sophisticated treatments, including stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy, with remarkable accuracy, targeting tumours from multiple angles while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. This level of precision not only improves treatment effectiveness but also reduces side effects,” he says.
| Pic: Ilse Daneel (centre) is pictured with Netcare Milpark Hospital radiotherapy unit manager Marianne Menevissis and radiotherapist Bongiwe Nkosi. |
| Pic: Ilse Daneel, 51, is sharing her personal journey with breast cancer to encourage early detection. She recently completed a course of radiotherapy using the advanced Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator. |
“This TrueBeam system ranks among the most advanced radiotherapy systems available globally, combining HyperArc radiosurgery with VisionRT AlignRT surface-guided radiotherapy to deliver exceptional treatment precision, a combination never before offered in South Africa.”
Prof Ramiah adds that for people facing a cancer diagnosis, the addition of these advanced technologies places the Netcare Milpark Radiation Therapy Unit at the forefront of modern cancer treatment.
“In Gauteng, we now have the advantage of world-class radiotherapy technology capable of delivering highly personalised, precise and efficient cancer care comparable with leading centres internationally. With greater public awareness of the value of early detection, advances like these can meaningfully improve cancer outcomes and survival rates,” says Prof Ramiah.
Ilse was referred to the renowned Netcare Milpark Breast Care Centre of Excellence, where the multidisciplinary team is led by internationally acclaimed breast specialist Professor Carol Ann Benn, Professor in the Department of Surgery at Wits University.
“After surgery to remove the tumour and a nearby lymph node, the tumour was sent to Belgium for further analysis. It was determined that I wouldn’t need chemotherapy, but for this type of cancer, I would need hormone blocker tablets and injections to reduce the risk of recurrence,” she says.
“To eliminate any possible remaining cancer cells, I would also need a course of radiation therapy. I live in Boksburg and was considering a facility nearer home. With my professional interest in technology, when I heard about the new system at Netcare Milpark Hospital’s radiation therapy unit, I knew that was where I wanted to go for this important part of my treatment.”
Ilse’s radiation oncologist Dr Mia Hugo describes the new radiotherapy system as ‘the Rolls-Royce’ of linear accelerators in South Africa.
“There are many ways this system expands the range of radiotherapy treatments for cancers throughout the body. Kudos to the Netcare Milpark radiotherapy team for their time and effort in learning the system’s numerous capabilities – from stereotactic radiation delivering a high dose in a short time, to HyperArc cranial radiation that can target multiple metastases in the brain to volumetric arc therapy – safely and effectively for our patients.”
This is further enhanced by the integration of VisionRT AlignRT surface-guided technology. This feature significantly improves safety and accuracy by ensuring radiation is delivered exactly where it is intended and by pausing treatment with even the smallest movements to prevent accidental additional exposure to healthy surrounding tissue. The shorter treatment sessions are also more convenient, especially for people who are working, she says.
Dr Hugo praised the radiation therapy team at Netcare Milpark Hospital for their warmth and care for individuals like Ilse and for always going above and beyond for every patient. “Even with the best technology, it is the healthcare workers in the team who make it work safely, accurately and in an environment of care for every patient,” Dr Hugo says.
Ilse notes that each radiotherapy session lasted at most 15 minutes, although the treatment itself took only a fraction of that time after positioning. “It has been a busy time at work since I returned after my surgery, as we are at a crucial stage of implementation in a neighbouring country. It’s been tiring, but after 16 sessions, I have completed my course of radiotherapy, and I am so grateful to the radiotherapy unit and staff for their caring attitude and expertise.”
When a person completes their course of radiotherapy or chemotherapy at Netcare Milpark Hospital, it is customary to ring a bell to celebrate this achievement with those who have supported them. On 10 March, Ilse reached this significant milestone.
“My sister and my kids, aged 18 and 21, have been the greatest support to me over this time. My children mean everything to me, and although this has personally been a difficult time for me, I am grateful that my cancer was picked up early. This was in part because my medical scheme authorised annual mammograms in recognition of my familial risk,” Ilse says.
“I want to share my experience to encourage other people to talk to their doctors about cancer screening. Please, think about your own life and how different things can turn out for anyone who, like me, had no symptoms and felt no lump.”
Ends.
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