Joanna Naicker

Joanna Naicker S4 colon cancer survivor, supporting people newly diagnosed ❤️‍🩹

Cancer had spread through my lymphatic system, affecting my abdomen, lungs and neck.Seven months ago, this was me at my ...
20/04/2026

Cancer had spread through my lymphatic system, affecting my abdomen, lungs and neck.

Seven months ago, this was me at my worst.

The side effects were brutal.

I lost my hair. I had eye shingles. My skin broke down with dryness and pustules. Styes in my eyes. Nausea. Body aches. Days where everything felt like too much.

It did not feel like anything good could come from that.

Now my tumour markers have dropped to 2.6.

I had a full health check a few days ago.

Blood pressure normal. Cholesterol normal. Sugar normal. Weight normal.

When I look at where I was and where I am now, it is hard to believe.

Even if there is only a small amount of hope, take it.

Hold onto it and build on it.

Lean into what matters. Block out the noise and the negativity.

Stay focused on where you are going and you WILL get there! ✨💛

That’s why I created my community on SKOOL.

Not for content. For real conversations.

You can chat with me directly and speak to people who are in it or have been through it.

Comment COMMUNITY and I’ll send you the link

13/04/2026

You never really know what someone has walked through until they tell you.

In my live with Lya, she shared her journey of surviving an aneurysm, mini strokes, infections, and going through a divorce, and what it actually looks like to keep going after something like that.

We spoke about the reality of anxiety, motherhood, and showing up every day when your body and mind have been through trauma.

What stood out most were the practical ways she has learned to cope.

– Writing it out. Journaling the thoughts you cannot carry anymore.
– Creativity. For example, painting and expressing what you are feeling.
– Somatic healing.
Sitting in silence with your eyes closed.
Bringing up a situation that has triggered you.
Noticing where the physical symptoms show up in your body.
Sending your energy there and staying with it.
Allowing that feeling and trigger to dissipate over time.

She also reminded me how important community is.
Having people who understand.
Having a space where you can speak freely.

That is exactly why she created her page
A space for people navigating similar experiences to feel seen and supported.

We also talked about being a mum through all of this.
Helping your children with their anxiety while managing your own.
The power of having a strong support system around you.

There is something really powerful about hearing someone say.
I have been there too.

If this resonates go and follow her page and remind yourself you are not alone 🤍
❤️

I have been thinking a lot about that time lately and what we missedI was actually the one diagnosed first, which makes ...
11/04/2026

I have been thinking a lot about that time lately and what we missed

I was actually the one diagnosed first, which makes it even harder to look back on

Me and my mum used to talk about what was going on with our bodies
We would mention things here and there and compare a bit

We were both dealing with stomach symptoms and changes in our bowels
Neither of us ever thought it could be cancer

I kept going back to the doctors because something did not feel right
I was younger and more pushy with it

My mum was different
She did not really talk about it much and just carried on

Looking back now, the signs feel obvious
At the time, they were not

That is why I do what I do now
That is why I created this list

If you have any stomach symptoms or changes in your bowels, please get them checked

👇
Comment LIST and I will send you the checklist I wish we had 💛

27/03/2026

Google didn’t give me real answers.

The only way to understand what’s going on is to track your symptoms and get proper medical advice.

I didn’t even know the symptoms of colon cancer, so it never crossed my mind that it could be cancer.
Even when I went to the doctor, I didn’t have that information to push further, even though I was advocating for myself and begging for help!

By the time I knew what was actually happening, it was stage 4 colon cancer.

If something feels off and it keeps happening, don’t ignore the pattern.

Link is in my bio for my free symptoms checker.
It could help you catch what I didn’t in time 🙏

I wrote this to the woman who just got off the phone and is trying to process words that don’t feel real yet.I know the ...
18/03/2026

I wrote this to the woman who just got off the phone and is trying to process words that don’t feel real yet.

I know the ground just fell out from under you. I know you’re wondering how you’re supposed to do this. Your brain is already racing through every worst case scenario.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me the day I got that call.

You will find a version of yourself you didn’t know existed. You will walk into rooms that terrify you and walk out the other side. You will break down and then you will get back up. Again and again.

This is going to change you. One day, you’ll look back and realise you became someone you’re actually proud of 💛

Many women living with cancer experience a quiet mental loop that nobody really talks about.A diagnosis creates enormous...
16/03/2026

Many women living with cancer experience a quiet mental loop that nobody really talks about.

A diagnosis creates enormous stress. At the same time, research shows that chronic stress can influence inflammation, immune signalling, sleep quality, and hormone balance, all systems that help the body maintain stability during illness and recovery.

So many women end up stuck in a painful paradox.

You are already carrying the fear of the disease, the treatment, and the uncertainty of the future. Then you start worrying that the stress itself might somehow harm your body.

This is the stress–cancer paradox.

Science does not say that stress alone causes cancer or recurrence. What research does show is that long term unmanaged stress can affect biological systems connected to immunity, inflammation, and hormonal regulation.

The goal is not to eliminate stress. That would be impossible.

The goal is to help your nervous system come out of constant survival mode.

Evidence based approaches that can help include:

🌿 Mindfulness and breathing practices
These can help regulate cortisol and calm the nervous system.

🚶‍♀️ Gentle movement
Walking, stretching, or yoga support mood, sleep, and immune function.

🧠 Counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy
Talking through fears can reduce anxiety and improve coping.

👭 Support from other people
Connection with friends, family, or support groups lowers emotional burden.

🌙 Protecting sleep routines
Consistent sleep helps regulate hormones and inflammatory responses.

Small nervous system resets matter more than perfection. Even brief moments of calm throughout the day can help shift the body away from constant stress signalling.

If you have ever felt guilty for feeling anxious during cancer, this is your reminder that your response is human.

You are not failing at healing.
You are navigating something incredibly difficult.

If you are looking for more support, I have gathered resources, tools, and ways to work with me one to one on my Stan Store. The link is in my bio.

Share this with another woman who might need to hear it today 💛

15/03/2026

Two more immunotherapy sessions. Then another PET scan.

I’ve done this more times than I can count. It never gets easier.

The scan itself is over quickly. The waiting for results takes everything.

Your brain runs through every scenario. You analyze every twinge. Sleep disappears. Even when the news is good, sometimes you just start counting down to the next one.

The hardest part is carrying all of that while still being mum. Still making breakfast, managing the day to day, being present when inside you’re falling apart.

If you’re in the waiting right now, keep busy where you can & when the feelings rise up, let them out. Don’t hold it in. My little girl always finds a way to distract me too 😉 despite it all 💛

A cancer diagnosis throws you into a world of information overnight. It can feel overwhelming very quickly. These are fi...
14/03/2026

A cancer diagnosis throws you into a world of information overnight. It can feel overwhelming very quickly. These are five books that might help you make sense of things without drowning in it.

Each one plays a different role.

Together these five books cover the things many people start exploring after a diagnosis: lifestyle, mindset, nutrition, science, and real survivor stories.

If you are newly diagnosed, start slowly. One book at a time is more than enough.

Share this with someone who might need it today 💛

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