SA referee Aimee Barrett-Theron turns cancer diagnosis into a life-saving message South African referee Aimee Barrett-Theron has opened up about her brave fight against breast cancer after stepping away from officiating to focus on her treatment and recovery. Image: Malcolm Mackenzie / ProSportsImages / DPPI via AFP South African rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron would have been preparing to take charge of United Rugby Championship (URC) action this weekend, but instead of being the middle woma
10/10/26 • 14 بازدیدها
South African referee Aimee Barrett-Theron has opened up about her brave fight against breast cancer after stepping away from officiating to focus on her treatment and recovery.
Image: Malcolm Mackenzie / ProSportsImages / DPPI via AFP
South African rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron would have been preparing to take charge of United Rugby Championship (URC) action this weekend, but instead of being the middle woman in a fierce SA derby, she is in the midst of one of the toughest battles of her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Barrett-Theron recently made her diagnosis public before stepping away from the game to focus on her treatment, using her own experience to highlight the importance of early detection and encouraging women to take charge of their health.
Despite being fit and healthy, with no family history of cancer, the respected referee never expected to find herself undergoing chemotherapy. However, regular self-checks, prompted by seeing a friend go through breast cancer at a young age, proved crucial in identifying the disease early.
“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,” Barrett-Theron said in an online video posted by the URC.
“I chose to share it publicly, and what I found is a lot of people have said that they’re guilty of not doing the self-checks and not going for their scans. And, you know, life is busy or they’re worried about the outcome.
“But hopefully, by standing up for this and raising a bit of awareness around it, people are more proactive and they take action to look after themselves.”
For Barrett-Theron, the diagnosis has reinforced the importance of listening to your body, regardless of your age, fitness or family history.
“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.
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