Joanna Naicker

21/11/2025

Chemo is hard enough.
These simple habits made it a little easier for me. Hope they help you too 💛

Comment CHEMO for my full guide

17/11/2025

Basically the cancer equivalent of telling someone to “just calm down” when their life is on fire.
These are the phrases to avoid when someone’s going through treatment, scans, recovery or the million complications in between.

Got any others people have thrown at you?

11/11/2025

As it’s 11:11 I thought I’d share my mum’s story 🪽 🤍

11/11/2025

10/11/2025

Getting diagnosed with cancer is terrifying.

I was diagnosed with s4 colon cancer over six years ago. It hits you in the gut before you can even think, and suddenly your entire life feels unstable. Your mental health is hanging in the balance and the smallest thing can tip you over. One comment, one appointment, one random moment, and you’re in tears or furious or numb@and you can’t even explain what triggered you. I couldn’t look at my daughter who was four years old then. The thought of not being here to raise her was unbearable.

Nothing feels predictable, including your own reactions but you still move forward. Not because you’ve had some inspirational breakthrough, but because you have to. You keep showing up, even when you’re exhausted and scared and not sure what the next hour is going to feel like. That’s the real beginning of strength in all of this. Somehow, I’ve got to 2025 almost 2026 and I’m not quite sure how but I have, it’s taken so much strength (even if I say so myself) and you can do it too.

If you’re newly diagnosed and trying to survive the emotional chaos, I offer free 1:1 calls to help you get through the first days/weeks and beyond without feeling completely lost.
Link to my free resources in in my bio 🩵

09/11/2025

I’m on Vectibix ®️ (panitumumab)It is a targeted treatment used for colorectal cancer when your RAS gene (wild typ) which means it is not mutated. If it is mutated, this treatment will not work.

It blocks EGFR, a signal cancer uses to grow. When I had it with chemo, my scans showed a strong response. That is my personal experience with it.

The side effects are real. The rash is not just on the face. It shows up in the scalp too. I get sores around my nails and cracks in my skin. It is uncomfortable, but it becomes manageable once you know what your skin needs and how to treat it.

I have a three more rounds left and then I will scan again to see where things are.

If you also have a wild type RAS gene and you are starting Vectibix, I break everything down in my Chemo and Targeted Therapy Guide. The routines that helped me including skin care & questions to ask. The real life side no one prepares you for! You can also book a one to one with me if you want more personalised support 🩵

Just comment GUIDE and I’ll send the link 🩵

For technical information you can check:
USA: www.cancer.gov
UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org
Australia: www.cancer.org.au
South Africa and wider Africa: www.cansa.org.za

07/11/2025

It actually makes perfect sense when you’re living it, you feel like you’ve updated everyone, but then you realise, did I actually say it out loud? 😅

So here it is, properly:

I’m on Vectibix immunotherapy every two weeks. Three rounds down. The rash is definitely doing its thing, but it’s manageable and I’m handling it.

Tomorrow I’m breaking it all down, what Vectibix is, how it works, why it matters, and how it’s been helping me. Honestly, it’s such an interesting treatment and I think it’s worth understanding whether you have cancer or not. Knowledge really is power. 💛

I had to dig for a photo because when you’re bald and not wearing makeup, the camera roll gets very quiet 😞🥹 But here I am anyway. Chat to you tomorrow xx