Randpark Ridge family puts on a fight against skin cancer
Randpark Ridge resident Jenna Robinson (44) shed light on her ongoing battle with cancer, mounting medical bills, and medical aid issues.
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Robinson was recently diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. She explained that melanoma starts with a mole anywhere on the body, which she had when she was 27. 'I had two moles on my leg. They removed them. I was sent home completely uneducated to the fact that once that melanoma is there, in your body, it's going to go to your lymphatic system and spread.' 17 years later she was told that she has cancer. 'If I was told, when I had a small mole removed, to go for checkups every six months, this wouldn't have spiralled. But the dermatologist never told me anything of the sort.'
Robinson advises people to take it seriously, if they pick up something on their skin. 'Take it very seriously. They never mentioned that it was cancerous or something. They removed it, and they said it's fine, and there was nothing wrong with me. If the mole has been in your body, it changes the gene in your DNA. That gene took this long to activate, to come alive.
'Once you have that mole, it is going to go to your lymphatic system, 100%. Whether it's going to take one year, or, like me, 17 years. It's going to get you. The sooner you stop it, the better.'
Robinson developed a lump on her leg, which grew bigger, until she went to surgery. It took her three months to recover. 'It was Christmas. I was busy. I had other family issues. Soon, this thing was the size of a tennis ball.'
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She had many complications following the operation, ending up in high care with sepsis, on a machine for 17 days.
Robinson is currently on treatment that costs around R3m, and the medical aid does not cover all their medical bills. Her husband, Robert, said that anything to do with cancer, is very expensive. 'I was angry. You think: Why is it so expensive. Maybe for my kids' grandchildren, cancer treatment will be more affordable. But right now, it's not.'
At the moment, they've put Robinson on what is called: targeted therapy. She'll have that until the end of the year, until she can possibly go into immunotherapy.
'The targeted therapy costs R58 000 a month,' said Robert. 'The government hospitals in South Africa do not cover this form of cancer. She is swallowing a R2 000 tablet a day. Who can afford that? Our medical aid is covering it, for now, but it's not a solution. It's temporary. It's palliative care. I've got two young children. We want a solution.'
Robinson urges residents to carefully check their medical aid. 'If you're in a financial position, make sure you have cover. Get the best medical aid you can and extra policies.'
The family recently held their first karaoke event in Bromhof to raise funds for Robinson's treatment expenses, which are going to keep on going up. Robert confirmed that they had about a hundred and fifty people through. 'It was a really good response to the event. It gave us quite a good outreach to various different parties and people. We will continue to push the fundraisers and definitely try and do more in the future.'
The family has also opened a BackaBuddy campaign. For anyone who is willing to donate, the link is: Backabuddy.co.za/campaign/.
For more information contact Robert on robbie@aqualandsa.co.za or 0825212360.
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Related article: Spreading 'paws-itivity' for patients living with cancer at Netcare Olivedale Hospital
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