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6 NEWS
Eastern Cape Today 24 August - 30 August 2012
NEW TrEaTmENT givES hopE
By Sisonke Labase
EAST LONDON – Karen Buchler, a 24year-old
woman from Gonubie in East London,
was diagnosed in 2007 with a rare stage
three cancer, Hodgkins Lymphoma, and last
April, her doctors sent her home to wait for
her death.
Karen this week told EC Today how she was
battling refractory Hodgkins Lymphoma and
refused to give up although she has exhausted
all possible treatments available in South Africa
and her last hope is a drug in the United
States of America (USA).
Karen was a first year Law student at the
University of North West in Potchefstroom
when she was diagnosed. She thought it would
be something small and would be treated in a
matter of months.
“I was studying in Potch and during my
exams I found a lump under my arm. When
the doctor told me it was cancer I thought it
would take a couple of months, not knowing
it was going to get worse.
“After a few months of treatment reality hit
me,” she said.
Karen said Hodgkins lymphoma is a rare
form of cancer and according to South African
cancer association Cansa, it is made up of
large, malignant cells found in Hodgkin Lymphoma
tissues. Incidence rates are higher
in adolescents and young adults. Long-term
survival rates are more than 86 percent, if
caught early.
Karen’s hopes are now focused on a new
drug which has had recent success in the
USA, Brentuximab Vedotin, though the drug
n Fight against rare cancer not over
STILL POSITIVE
Karen Buchler, 24, fights Hodgkins Lymphoma in her hospital bed at Charlotte Maxeke
Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Picture supplied
is still in the trial stages and is extremely expensive.
Her family, which is facilitating her fundraising,
said it would cost € 106 656, about
R1.1-million, for the maximum of 16 treat-
ments, with the additional related costs such
as hospitalisation and scanning fees.
The fundraising team has their work cut
out for them with her mother-in-law, Liza
Buchler as well as her family and friends try-
By Desmond Coetzee
Residents of Sweetwaters in King William’s
Town staged a peaceful protest last weekend
and claimed that the houses they are
living in are incomplete and dangerous.
The group of about 30 residents, mostly
women, were beneficiaries of the first phase
of 52 houses built by Ntabeni Constructors
in 2005 and handed to them in 2006.
They gathered at one of the houses and
took EC Today on a tour as they pointed
out the problems and stressed their concerns.
“We live in fear and on a time bomb
waiting to explode and want new homes.
“We cannot live in these homes under
these terrible conditions and demand that
our homes be the same as those handed
over to residents recently,” said Ms Nokuthula
Ndindwa, speaking on behalf of
the group.
She was referring to newly completed
units built by MMS Developments and recently
handed to beneficiaries.
During an inspection it was found that
the groups houses were riddled with
cracks, theirs doors, windows and toilet
ing to raise funds to get the drug that could
save her life.
Together, they have established a nonprofit
organisation, registered with the Department
of Social Development, called the
The Karen Buchler Cancer Fund.
Liza, who is running the fundraising team
to get the drug from the USA, said: “Nothing
more can be done in South Africa. Now she’s
waiting for us to raise funds for the treatment
to get it from America,” she said.
Liza said that Johannesburg based, Professor
Paul Ruff of Wits University is arranging
for the importation of the drug and the approval
from the local medical authorities and
will oversee Karen’s therapy with the new
drug in Johannesburg.
Although she was diagnosed with cancer,
Karen is living her life and got married
in 2010 and like any young woman, worries
about her looks and tries to live a normal life.
She waited for her hair to grow before she
could get married as she didn’t want to wear a
wig on her wedding day.
“I got married two years ago in August
2010, I didn’t want to get married before that
because I didn’t have hair,” Karen said.
Her positive attitude has kept her alive “I
have my ups and downs but the moment you
get negative you get sick. I was supposed to
have been dead a long time ago, so staying
positive has kept me alive.”
For anyone who would like to help Karen
Buchler visit www.karenfund.co.za or email
enquiries to membership@karenfund.co.za
or sms at 072 386 8959. Contact Cansa on
0800 22 66 22.
Sweetwaters residents
demand new homes
NOT HAPPY
Disgruntled residents complain about the poor state of their homes and demand
their homes to be similar to the new phase units recently handed over to the community.
Picture by Desmond Coetzee
systems were broken and the floors are
disintegrating.
Cement blocks, bricks and tyres on top
of their roofs serve as anchors to keep their
corrugated iron roofs on during strong
winds.
But residents complain that their possessions
are damaged after every rainfall.
“The water pours in from the holes as if
someone has opened a shower on top of
you,” said Ms Bulelwa Banyeli. They want
their roofs to be tiled and to have proper
ceilings.
Some of the homes were never connected
to electricity or water.
“I am 76, staying on my own and I have
to carry a heavy bucket from the tap in the
street,” said Ms Maggie Sam.
EC Today also found two bulldozers
parked near the protest with about 15 houses,
similar to their houses, demolished.
Buffalo City Ward 44 Committee member
Mr Patrick Khonkwane said they were
busy finding a solution.
“We agree that the houses are in a poor
state and have informed the affected beneficiaries
about the changes we intend to
bring,” said Mr Khonkwane.