In 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that South Africa recorded approximately 110,000 new cancer cases, with over 56,000 cancer-related deaths. These statistics underscore the dire need for specialised cancer care, a gap that Mediclinic Newcastle is addressing with the addition of Radiation and Clinical Oncologist, Dr Thandeka Buthelezi-Zulu, to its team.
Dr Buthelezi-Zulu, who proudly hails from Newcastle, brings a profound passion for her work and an unwavering commitment to making a difference in her community.
She describes her role as a Radiation and Clinical Oncologist as pivotal in the fight against cancer, combining advanced medical expertise with compassionate care.
Furthermore, Dr Buthelezi-Zulu explained her medical journey began at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she qualified as a doctor in 2007. After completing her internship at Madadeni Hospital Complex and community service in Pongola, she pursued specialisation in Radiation and Clinical Oncology at Universitas (University of the Free State) from 2016 to 2019. Her career has since taken her to Durban, where she worked at Albert Luthuli Hospital and Addington Hospital Complex in the Oncology Unit as a consultant.
Reflecting on her decision to pursue medicine and oncology, she shared, “Ever since high school, I wanted to become a doctor, always having that nature to want and help people when they are at the point where the situation seems impossible, especially in oncology. When you are diagnosed with cancer, for most people, it feels like the end. I know it sounds cliché, but coming into that space when someone has received some of the worst possible news you can get and just being able to enlighten them and supporting them, showing them there is hope and that they can live through this. Even if the cancer is uncurable, there is always still something we can do.”
Additionally, Dr Buthelezi-Zulu highlighted that she has observed a significant gap in primary healthcare, particularly in Newcastle, where oncology services in the public sector are lacking.
She expressed her determination to address this, saying, “This is an issue in Newcastle as well, where there is no oncology unit in our public sector. I am the first full-time oncologist in Newcastle, which is why I wanted to specialise in oncology, so I could make oncology service accessible to people at their home and when it is not too late.”
Although she has only recently begun providing oncology services in Newcastle, Dr Buthelezi-Zulu has already noted a prevalence of cancers in the local community, including gynaecological cancers (cervix and ovaries), colon, breast, and prostate cancers.
Returning to her hometown with her husband and two children, she expressed gratitude for the warm welcome she has received from the local community, medical professionals, and the Mediclinic Newcastle team. She highlighted their shared vision of providing accessible and compassionate cancer care.
Moreover, Dr Buthelezi-Zulu believes her roles as a wife and mother positively influence her approach to oncology, “Oncology requires you to multi-task quite a bit because we work with the various surgical departments, radiology, and most of the medical services, and include the patient’s family during their treatment with compassion and understanding. I think having motherly instincts and being able to multitask, and having compassion and good communication skills does contribute positively to my work.”
She also addressed common misconceptions about oncology, stating, “If you tell people you are an oncologist, the immediate response is, ‘Oh, that is so sad and why would you do that.’ But it isn’t sad at all; it is extremely fulfilling to find someone at a point where they think it’s the end and being able to give them hope, carrying them through their journey, and seeing them live. So, the misconception is that being an oncologist means working with death, but it’s so much more than that. Radiation Oncology is a dynamic field with continuous research, physics, science and requires excellent clinical acumen.”
Concluding, Dr Buthelezi-Zulu emphasised that cancer and chemotherapy are not death sentences. Instead, treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s unique needs and medical history. “We want to support our community through their cancer journey, providing and restoring hope and health to our cancer patients so they can know that cancer is a journey that can be conquered.”
To book a consultation with Dr Buthelezi-Zulu, contact her practice on 063 037 3819 or visit her website at www.melnaoncology.co.za
As Mediclinic Newcastle and Dr Buthelezi-Zulu work together to bring hope and healing to the community, be sure to leave your welcome messages or thoughts in the comment section below.
Comments 2
Welcome Dr you are truelly needed in this area and surrounding areas so glad to ha e you back in your home town God bless you
It is absolutely pleasure to have people who have high medical specialties prefer to come and work in Newcastle. It brings hope first to town before it does to patients. People do not know that before Professionals accept work in small towns, they first look whether there is good medical facilities and school or not. Then infrastructure and cleanliness of town. Thank you MaShenge-Mageba.