Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world (Wilkinson & Gathani, 2021) and in South Africa, 1 in every 27 women face the risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime (National Cancer Registry, 2023).
These figures reveal an alarming reality for women around the world and in South Africa. However, NGO’s like Reach for Recovery are changing the narrative around breast cancer diagnosis, from one of fear and uncertainty to one of hope, resilience, and transformation.
Through a conversation with Stephanie van Deventer, the national manager for Reach for Recovery, this blog post celebrates the stories of support and empowerment and inspires hope for breast cancer patients across the country.
Reach for Recovery: 55+ Years of Support
Since 1967, Reach for Recovery (RFR) has been a lifeline for South African women facing breast cancer. What makes RFR stand out isn’t just their history as the country’s oldest national breast cancer support organisation, it’s the way they support women from the moment cancer is suspected, through treatment, and into survivorship.
At its heart, RFR is a community of women who’ve been there themselves. Their 225 trained Peer Support Volunteers, all breast cancer survivors, walk into treatment rooms across seven provinces with something only they can offer: the reassurance that no one has to go through this alone.
“Our volunteers bring emotional support. They stand there beside the patient and say, ‘You are going to be okay. It will be a rough journey, but we will be there for you,’” Stephanie shares.
These volunteers don’t just hand out information, they bring courage. For women in underserved communities, who might be walking this path alone, this kind of support is more than comfort. It’s hope.
RFR’s care extends beyond words. Every patient receives a lovingly prepared “goodie bag” filled with thoughtful items: a breast cancer guide, a handmade cushion to ease under-arm discomfort, and a bag for the port-a-vac drain. Each item is stitched, packed, and given with dignity, reminding women that they are seen, held, and supported.
The Ditto Project: Restoring Confidence and Dignity
A core initiative of RFR is the Ditto Project which was launched in 2011 and was born out of a simple yet powerful belief: no woman should be denied the chance to feel whole again after breast cancer surgery. Since then, this initiative has given more than 8,345 women access to free, high-quality silicone prostheses.
“When a woman looks in the mirror after receiving a prosthesis and says, ‘Now I feel balanced again, I feel self-confident,’ that’s an emotional, transformative moment.”
The project reaches even deeper than appearance. In many South African communities, stigma still surrounds breast cancer. Women are too often treated as “different,” or worse, made to feel unworthy of being called a woman at all.
The Ditto Project challenges this. By providing prostheses, support, and awareness, it helps women reclaim their sense of self — not just physically, but socially and emotionally. It restores their place in their families, their communities, and most importantly, in their own eyes.
Hope for the Future
Reach for Recovery demonstrates that with the right support, breast cancer, or any cancer for that matter, does not have to be a journey taken alone. Through peer support, education, and initiatives like the Ditto Project and Mushrooms Power of Pink, women are not only surviving, they are thriving.
What makes this work so powerful is that it’s offered freely; no price tag, no barrier. Every visit, every prosthesis, every word of encouragement is made possible through the generosity of donors and the spirit of fundraising campaigns.
As Stephanie says, “Our work isn’t just about survival, it’s about helping women feel whole, confident, and empowered to continue their lives with dignity.”
Connecting the Dots: Amani Spa & Wellness and Women Supporting Women
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we at Amani Spa & Wellness chose to shine a light on the women of Reach for Recovery because we share the belief that true wellness is more than physical. It’s emotional, social, and deeply personal.
At Amani, our purpose goes beyond treatments. We are here to empower, nurture, and inspire wellness in every part of life. Speaking with Stephanie van Deventer for this month gave us the chance to celebrate the incredible women supporting women through RFR, while also acknowledging both the challenges South African women face and the powerful stories of resilience and community that rise from them.
Too often, conversations around breast cancer focus only on fear and loss. But Stephanie’s insights remind us of something bigger: that hope, courage, and collective support have the power to transform lives.
You can make a difference this Breast Cancer Awareness month by purchasing a Power of Pink mushroom punnet at Pick n Pay or making a direct donation to Reach for Recovery.
Reach for Recovery
Nedbank Pretoria North
Account number: 1597058718
Branch Code: 101240
For more information, please contact Stephanie van Deventer at
nationalmanager@reach4recovery.org.za or visit their website at
www.reachforrecovery.org.za.
References:
- Cumber, S. N., Nchanji, K. N., & Tsoka-Gwegweni, J. M. (2017). Breast cancer among women in sub-Saharan Africa: prevalence and a situational analysis. Southern African Journal of Gynaecological Oncology, 9(2), 35–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/20742835.2017.1391467
- Jemal, A., Siegel, R., Ward, E., Hao, Y., Xu, J., Murray, T., & Thun, M. J. (2008). Cancer Statistics, 2008. CA a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 58(2), 71–96. https://doi.org/10.3322/ca.2007.0010
- Sarmah, N., Sibiya, M. N., & Khoza, T. E. (2023). The Sociocultural Influences on Breast Cancer Screening among Rural African Women in South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(21), 7005. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20217005
- The Cancer Association of South Africa. (2023, September 21). Frequently asked questions – Breast cancer. CANSA – the Cancer Association of South Africa. https://cansa.org.za/frequently-asked-questions-breast-cancer/
- Wilkinson, L., & Gathani, T. (2021). Understanding breast cancer as a global health concern. British Journal of Radiology, 95(1130). https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20211033
