Don’t Wait to Know: Dr Zanele Nhlabatsi-Khumalo (PhD) on Cancer Awareness and Early Detection
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Dr Zanele Nhlabatsi-Khumalo’s story is a powerful reminder that awareness must go beyond October.
October is recognized around the world as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honour survivors, remember those lost, and reaffirm the importance of early detection and education. For Dr Zanele Nhlabatsi-Khumalo (PhD), this month is not just symbolic; it is deeply personal.
Her commitment to public health began after her sister was diagnosed with cancer at a very late stage. “There were no early signs that we noticed, or maybe we just were not educated enough to recognize them,” she said. “That experience changed everything for me.”
Dr. Zanele, a Canon Collins Trust alum who holds a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Cape Town and a PhD in Chemistry, originally trained as a chemist. However, her sister’s illness shifted her focus entirely. She developed a deep passion for epidemiology and biostatistics, driven by a determination to use data to improve how diseases like cancer are prevented, managed, and understood particularly in rural communities.
“In many parts of southern Africa, people are still dying because they do not know what to look for,” she explained. “Cancer education and screening services are often inaccessible. People only go to the hospital when the disease is already advanced. We have to change that through awareness and prevention.”
This year’s theme for Cancer Awareness Month, Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters, resonates strongly with Dr Zanele. “Each diagnosis is not just a statistic. It’s a person, a family, a story,” she said. “That’s why community health programs must focus not only on treatment but on awareness and equitable access.”
Across the world, new developments in cancer research are offering hope. Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have created a promising “super vaccine” that prevented cancer in lab mice by training the immune system to attack abnormal cells before they form tumours. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto have developed a non-invasive, light-based therapy that destroys cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. In India, scientists at IISER Kolkata have engineered friendly bacteria that can both detect and fight cancer cells.
“These breakthroughs remind us that science and hope can coexist,” Dr Zanele said. “But we must ensure that advances in science translate into access for everyone, including people in rural areas.”
She believes education remains the most powerful tool for prevention. Myths and misinformation about cancer still circulate widely. “Many people think cancer is always fatal or that it only affects older adults,” she explained. “That’s not true. Early detection saves lives. And many cancers are treatable, even curable, when caught early.”
According to global cancer foundations, early-stage breast cancer has a survival rate of up to 98 percent when detected and treated promptly. Regular screenings, such as mammograms, can identify changes before symptoms appear, leading to less invasive and more effective treatment.
“Prevention is not just medical,” Dr Zanele emphasized. “It’s social, educational, and cultural. We need to create systems where people feel safe to ask questions, where they know their voices matter.”
Her vision is to collaborate with civil society organizations, government departments, and research bodies to design studies that capture the health realities of rural communities. Through community feedback mechanisms and rural health data collection, she hopes to ensure that local voices inform national responses. “By listening, we can tailor interventions that truly meet people’s needs,” she said.
Dr Zanele’s work is rooted in gratitude for the support she received. “Canon Collins believed in me and made it possible for me to complete my studies,” she said. “Now I want to use that knowledge to help others, combining science, evidence, and advocacy to make sure people in rural areas have a brighter, healthier future.”
In parting, she firmly reminded us to take care of our health and seek medical attention early: “Your health is your power. Please don’t wait. Go for your check-up. Early detection can save your life or the life of someone you love.”