Breast cancer affects one in eight women in their lifetime. It is a statistic that reminds us how close this disease truly is to home. For women entrepreneurs, the diagnosis is not just a health challenge, it can change everything about how they run and sustain their businesses. When you are the founder, the strategist, and the heartbeat of your company, your personal wellbeing and your business survival are often deeply connected.
In 2018, I resigned from my corporate role to launch my own business. Just a few months later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What should have been a time of excitement and growth became a year of chemotherapy, three surgeries, and recovery. Even when my treatment ended, my body and mind needed time to heal. I discovered that when you are a solopreneur without the right systems or people to lean on, your business can easily come to a standstill.
That experience taught me the importance of preparation. Early detection and regular mammograms are vital because they give you time, options, and hope. They save lives and, for many of us, they protect livelihoods too. Women in business also need to think about financial protection such as dread disease cover or a similar safety net. Too often, we prioritise our teams, clients, and communities, but forget to secure ourselves. The right cover allows you to focus on recovery while knowing that your business can continue to operate.
Breast cancer changes your perspective. It reminds you that success is not only about growth and profit, but also about balance, health, and having the courage to pause when you need to. It is about building a business that can survive when you need to step away and surrounding yourself with people who can carry the vision forward.
Take care of your health as carefully as you build your dreams. Book your annual mammogram, encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same, and remember that early detection can save your life.
Author: Jayshree Naidoo is the founder of WomX Woman in Business and the CEO of YIEDI. She is also a two-time breast cancer survivor.
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