“Breast cancer entered my life suddenly, with words I never expected to hear. In that moment, everything felt uncertain — the future I had imagined, the plans I had made, even the way I saw myself.”

Christelle Ras

Christelle Ras (50), a long-time Hartbeespoort resident and estate agent, was diagnosed with breast cancer only days before her 50th birthday in March this year. “Hearing the diagnosis was overwhelming… What I didn’t realise then was that this journey, though incredibly difficult, would also reveal a strength I never knew I had,” she said.
She noticed a lump one night after a shower and wasn’t worried at first. “I was due for a mammogram, and I made an appointment. During the procedure, the doctor did a biopsy and a few days later, I received the results. I was stunned,” she says.
“Life very quickly became a rhythm of doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, treatment schedules, and conversations I never imagined having.” She started chemotherapy treatment soon after. “Chemotherapy has tested me in ways I could never have prepared for — the hair loss, the fatigue, the emotional toll. There are days that feel endless and nights when fear creeps in,” she says.
Christelle is currently still undergoing chemotherapy for another month, with surgery and radiation still ahead of her. “After chemotherapy, I will have to make very difficult decisions… I will only then know whether it will be a lumpectomy or possibly even a double mastectomy. “And yet, despite the fear and turmoil, I’ve learned to hold on to small victories: Completing another round of treatment, hearing good news from my doctors, or simply waking up with enough strength to face the day — these moments have become milestones that remind me to keep moving forward.”
She says that one of the greatest lessons cancer has taught her is that no one walks this path alone. “My faith, family, and friends have been my anchors, showing me love in countless ways — a kind word, a gift, or a message that arrives just when I need it most. And my medical team, with their expertise and encouragement, have given me the confidence to believe in the journey ahead. Allowing myself to lean on others hasn’t made me weaker; it has given me strength.”
Breast cancer hasn’t stopped her from living life to the fullest. “I still play golf, enjoy padel, and travel. I still choose joy wherever I can find it. Staying active and connected to the things I love reminds me that cancer is only one part of my story. It is a season, not the whole of who I am.”
And she has become a “crown” addict! “I have six wigs and I love playing around with them,” she laughs. “When I was diagnosed, I shaved all my hair. I couldn’t face being left with clumps of hair. However, to my surprise, my hair grew back evenly. It is somewhat thinner, but now I have healthy hair that has never been subjected to colouring or chemical treatments!”
Her message to all women is never to skip check-ups. ” If there is one thing I hope others take from my story, it is this: listen to your body and never skip your check-ups. Early detection saves lives,” she says.
“To anyone currently walking this road, know that you are stronger than you think. There will be difficult days, but there is also courage, resilience, and hope waiting inside you. Breast cancer may have temporarily changed the course of my life, but it will never define me. What defines me is the choice to keep living fully, to keep moving forward, and to meet each new day with gratitude. Saying yes when life says no.”