21 April, 2026
Altron HealthTech's ThriveLink brings together the expertise, information and support that already exist in South Africa's healthcare system. In this piece, cancer warrior Belinda Wagner opens up about navigating life with cancer, candidly discussing the challenges she encountered along the way. Expressing gratitude for ThriveLink's availability to the cancer community, she underscores a powerful message: connection and support during difficult times can have a transformative impact.
By Dr Belinda Wagner: Founder of Living with Cancer
Cancer is a traumatic diagnosis. For me, it took six months, countless tests and multiple operations before a team of specialists was finally able to determine what was wrong.
That was followed by a gruelling regimen of treatments, with hair loss, recovering from several operations and the fight to find the right medical plan to treat my rare type of cancer – Angiosarcoma.
I was given five years to live. It's been almost a decade. I am eternally grateful that my medical aid covered all of this apart from my living costs.
When expertise exists, but coordination doesn't
In the search for answers, nothing was clear. The path to diagnosis meant navigating an endless maze of specialists and tests, each generating more paperwork, more questions.
Even before being officially diagnosed, I was tracking every test result, every referral letter, every specialist recommendation, all while not knowing whether I would live or die. The uncertainty was frightening, and yet somehow, I was expected to stay positive while making life-altering decisions based on the limited information available.
Specialists ran multiple tests and procedures as they worked to understand what was happening, I navigated oncologists, haematologists, radiologists, and medical specialists – all bringing critical expertise to my care.
The challenge wasn't the quality of care; it was connecting it all. I had to tell my story again and again. Blood test results, CT scans, X-rays, CAT scan findings, hospital release forms, and referral letters piled up. I began keeping a journal to track and organise everything.
Three years after I was diagnosed, five specialists operated for more than four-and-a-half hours in a successful operation. Even today, I need blood tests and CT scans every six months. Coordinating this requires constant attention and not to mention emotional stamina.
Technology that unifies the cancer care journey
Hearing that Altron has developed an app, ThriveLink, that will allow patients like me to access my entire journey from blood results, surgical notes, to treatment plans is a great relief. Having all the tools in one place gives patients clarity, control, and peace of mind.
This is what healthcare collaboration looks like in practice. ThriveLink coordinates data, tools, and access to specialists, streamlining care and connecting the wider support network. It brings together what already exists – the expertise of South African specialists, the coverage from medical schemes, the tests and treatments – into one accessible space.
Supporting the whole ecosystem
A cancer diagnosis affects far more than the individual. Families often face significant emotional and practical pressures, with roles shifting and responsibilities increasing as they adjust to the demands of treatment and recovery.
To complicate things during my treatment, most of the specialists I saw weren't willing to explore treatments beyond South Africa. My family, broader support group of friends, and I had to do all this research ourselves. Additionally, there was the challenge of persuading South African doctors to share information with other specialists in the UK and the US.
I often had to step outside the entrenched norm. I messaged oncologists and radiologists directly to ensure the right information reached the right doctor. It's a level of micromanagement no patient should have to deal with. With the right systems in place, the cancer journey can be less isolating, less overwhelming, and ultimately more survivable.
Practical tools for real needs
The lack of information and transparency was, personally, very frustrating. I felt like a mushroom kept in the dark, forced to rely on Dr Google for answers about Angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of blood vessels.
Supporting patients means more than just managing treatment, because it is about providing them with tools, information and connection. Patients need practical solutions to consolidate test results. To manage appointments. To coordinate multiple specialists. To track symptoms.
ThriveLink does that.
Finding purpose through connection
Despite the hardships, I feel blessed. I never lost my will to live. I fought, I continued working, I earned my PhD in Business Leadership, and I embraced life. I help others live through and cope with a cancer diagnosis by providing as much information as possible, including new tools, while never claiming to be a medical specialist.
That's why I founded the non-profit organisation Living with Cancer, so that patients and caregivers would have a space to share their experiences, offer practical advice, and receive support.
I'm grateful that tools like ThriveLink are now available, connecting patients, specialists, and support networks in ways that make the cancer journey clearer and more coordinated.
Find out more about ThriveLink: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0pHcHt0
Wagner is the founder of Living with Cancer, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting cancer patients and survivors. She is also the creator of the First Patient Cancer Registry to register the million people living in South Africa with cancer. This register support the South African National Cancer Register (NCR), a division within the National Health Laboratory Services.