How cancer impacts on family lives

The family of entertainer and TV personality Phumeza Mdabe has had to overhaul their lifestyle after they found out that her son Mpilo has cancer.

Mpilo, who became blind due to the disease, was diagnosed with stage four eye cancer when he was only 15 months. Mpilo is now three years old and is in remission.

Mdabe, an actress, singer and former presenter of Our Perfect Wedding, said they had started preparing for the life they would have to live in the future with Mpilo.

"He doesn't play with normal toys. His toys have to be of a certain nature.

"Things we take for granted, like water, have to be explained to him.

"I have to say 'okay now you're holding water, bread, now you are stepping down'," said Mdabe, who is the Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa ambassador.

She said her family had learnt to be patient during this time. "It's amazing how easily Mpilo has adapted to this change. His hearing has improved so much. He knows the different types of keys in the house just by [their] sound.

"If you give him the wrong key he will say 'No mama I want the kitchen keys'. This has really taught us a lot.

"Mpilo doesn't want to be felt sorry for and acts like a normal child, I mean he played throughout his cancer, pre- and post-diagnosis."

Another TV personality, Jessica Nkosi, lost her father to lymphoma Hodgkins when she was 16.

The Face of Clinique and Isibaya actress's dad was diagnosed in the last stage of the cancer.

"I was in Grade 11 when my dad passed away, and the reason why I do Choc is because I believe if you see it early you can trace it early," said Nkosi, who is also a Choc ambassador.

"The most tragic moment was being unable to visit my dad in hospital and that he died with no one.

"The week he died he drove himself to hospital because there was no one."

Nkosi said her father's death did not, however, dampen her spirits.

She continued to pursue her studies, maintain top performance in her academic work, sports and became a prefect in matric as her father had wished.news@sowetan.co.za