My name is Babette, and I am a stage 2 breast cancer survivor from South Africa.
When I was first diagnosed, people told me that my mindset would make or break me. And for me, that turned out to be true.
Feeling good about yourself while going through the toughest fight of your life is incredibly hard. Cancer takes so much—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. The cortisone makes you grumpy and uncomfortable in your own body. You lose your hair, your eyebrows, your lashes, your breasts—and along the way, you can lose the person you thought you were.
Everything on the outside felt gone.
What I didn’t realize at first was that this journey would force me inward. I had to learn to forgive myself, to be compassionate toward myself, and ultimately, to love myself—not for how I looked, but for who I was becoming.
In the end, that inner work is what carried me through.
It took cancer to help me see the strong, resilient, and kind woman I truly am. And while I would never choose this path, I am deeply grateful for the self-acceptance and strength it revealed.
Q1. How important is mindset during breast cancer treatment?
A: Mindset can influence emotional resilience, coping, and how someone navigates the challenges of treatment.
Q2. Is it normal to struggle with self-image during breast cancer?
A: Yes. Treatment can change how a person looks and feels, making self-image and identity especially difficult.
Q3. How can self-compassion help during cancer?
A: Practicing self-compassion allows space for healing, forgiveness, and emotional strength during a difficult time.
Q4. Can breast cancer change how someone sees themselves?
A: Many survivors say cancer reshaped how they view themselves, often revealing inner strength they didn’t know they had.
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