Mirror moment saved my life, cancer survivor urges women to self-check
72-year-old Sereima Lalibuli shares her breast cancer journey and calls on women to prioritise early detection over herbal remedies.
Thursday 23 October 2025 | 00:00
Take time every day to look at yourself in the mirror to check your breasts before rushing to get your housework done, shared Sereima Lalibuli, a 72-year-old breast cancer survivor.
Ms Lalibuli was the chief guest during the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pinktober and mental awareness month programme in Labasa yesterday.
The former nurse and former lecturer of Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam College of Nursing and Health Care Education, said she came to know she had left breast cancer in 2023 when she looked herself in the mirror.
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“I never knew that I would become a victim even though coming from a medical background where I often talked about breast cancer,” Ms Lalibuli said.
“While it was still at an early stage, I quickly visited the medical professionals at Ro Qomate Health Centre and then Labasa Hospital for check-up.”
She told the gathering that cancer patients also experienced mental health problems.
“I had to wait for four to six weeks for my mammogram result to come from Colonial War Memorial Hospital to confirm that I had breast cancer even though I knew I had it and in the waiting process I had anxiety which led me to lose weight from 94 kilogram to 78 kilogram,” she said.
“However, as an educated woman I knew there were many organisations offering counselling services and help and I used it to drive out fear.”
After her successful operation in 2023 at Labasa Hospital, she continued advocating to women and public at large to choose to be educated about breast cancer and get medical help instead of using herbal medicine.
“I have seen women using herbal medicine and no one has been cured from cancer,” she said.
“Thus, I am advising women never use shortcuts or be afraid if you know you have cancer.”
She said women are born with strength and they must choose to live their life and move forward.
Originally from Naitasiri, having served many years in the Northern Division, the mother said she would continue to advocate breast cancer whether people want to hear it or not.
