In South Africa, rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron announces breast cancer diagnosis — Daily Maverick
In South Africa, professional rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron said that she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in June 2026. Two lumps were found in her breast, as well as cancerous involvement of the lymph nodes, so doctors prescribed an intensive course of treatment. Daily Maverick reports.
Barrett-Theron became the first woman from South Africa to be signed as a full-time professional rugby referee. She began chemotherapy in the first week of July and undergoes six-hour intravenous infusions every three weeks at Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Pinelands, Cape Town.
The referee said that how she feels after the procedures varies significantly depending on the day: sometimes she can work and meet friends, while at other times she cannot get out of bed. She has temporarily stepped away from rugby work to focus on treatment, but intends to return to the field.
In August, Barrett-Theron received the Technical Official of the Year award at the South African Sports Awards. She also noted that people’s reaction after she disclosed her diagnosis became important support for her.
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A public healthcare patient’s experience
In the same article, 66-year-old Joyce Witbooi from Cape Town spoke about her experience of breast cancer treatment in the public healthcare system. She was diagnosed with stage one cancer in 2010 at Groote Schuur Hospital. After receiving the diagnosis, the woman waited three months for surgery, and three weeks after the operation she began a six-month course of chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy.
According to Witbooi, treatment cost her 35 rand for each hospital visit. The medical facility allowed her to pay the debt in installments of 50 rand per month. After treatment, she founded the Sinethemba Survivors support group and helps other patients arrange transport to hospitals and receive emotional support.
Queues for surgery
Groote Schuur spokesperson Esetu Madlwabinga said that the hospital diagnoses between 500 and 600 new cases of breast cancer each year. The wait for surgery currently lasts about eight weeks, with between 50 and 70 patients in the queue at the same time.
Surgeon Liana Roodt, founder of the volunteer project Project Flamingo, said that in the public sector, delays arise not only before surgery but also during diagnosis, imaging, biopsy, pathological examinations, staging of the disease and the prescription of cancer treatment. According to her, the combined duration of such delays is often measured in months.
