Cape Town – South African rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron is urging women to pay attention to changes in their bodies after regular breast self-checks helped her detect cancer at an early stage.
The internationally respected official stepped away from refereeing to focus on treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite being fit and healthy, with no family history of the disease, Barrett-Theron said she never expected to receive a cancer diagnosis.
She began checking her breasts regularly after watching a friend go through breast cancer at a young age. That experience prompted her to seek medical attention when she noticed something was wrong.
“Early detection is so important when it comes to breast cancer. I was very lucky that I found mine in the early stages. I think it literally saved my very active career and potentially my life,” she said in a video shared by the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Barrett-Theron decided to speak publicly about her diagnosis after hearing from people who admitted they had delayed self-checks or medical scans because they were busy or afraid of the results.
By sharing her experience, she hopes to encourage more women to prioritise their health, pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek medical advice when they notice anything unusual.
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“Being pretty fit and healthy and not having any family history of cancer, I wasn’t sure I would be where I am today, going through chemo treatment and dealing with this diagnosis,” she said.
“But I actually started doing regular self-checks after I saw a friend go through breast cancer at quite an early age, and that’s what made me self-check and take action and go to the doctor.”
Her message is simple: women should not ignore changes in their bodies or assume they are not at risk because they are young or healthy.
“We know our bodies best, and if something doesn’t feel right, please go get it checked,” she said.
Although her immediate priority is treatment and recovery, Barrett-Theron has continued to support efforts to improve awareness of women’s health.
She has joined the Springbok Women and Project Flamingo for the Make Room for Her campaign, which connects women’s sport with access to breast cancer awareness, treatment and support.
The campaign encourages women to check their breasts regularly, notice changes and
Springbok Women and Project Flamingo are working together to promote early detection and better support for women receiving treatment.
Project Flamingo works with public hospitals and medical teams to help improve access to breast cancer surgery, diagnostic services and patient support.
Barrett-Theron said the partnership was particularly meaningful because both organisations advocate for women in different settings.
“On the field, we are advocating for the women in the rugby space, and in the medical space, Project Flamingo are advocating for women as well,” she said.
“So it’s important we join forces and, you know, we create a future bigger, brighter, more awareness.”
Barrett-Theron has made history as one of South Africa’s leading rugby officials, becoming the country’s first woman to work as a full-time professional rugby referee.
For now, her whistle remains on hold while she concentrates on treatment. But through sharing her experience, she is using her platform to remind women that breast cancer can affect anyone and that seeking medical advice early can make a difference.
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Picture: Instagram/ Aimee Barrett – Theron
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
