Halfway through our conversation, Severine Deloof says she feels incredibly lucky. At first, it’s hard to connect that feeling with breast cancer and the whirlwind of treatments and surgeries she’s endured. But Severine is talking about the endless stream of messages, cards, and support she received from every direction. Among her biggest supporters were her cycling friends Ilse and Steven.
A lump in the breast
On June 9, 2020, Severine felt a lump in her breast. On June 10, she learned it was malignant, and two days later, she had her first appointment with the oncologist. Severine: “I quickly told Ilse what was going on because she’s a good friend and I needed to share my story. On June 26, I had my first chemo. Before that, I needed a catheter placed. I really didn’t want to do it and asked to be fully sedated, but my cycling friend Steven, who’s a nurse, convinced me to go with local anesthesia. He stayed by my side the whole time. The week after, he checked in several times to monitor the wound and talk with me. There’s so much new information coming at you, and someone from the medical world understands it all better. There was also a third cycling friend from our group ‘Zwefie’—short for ‘Zwevegem fietst’—who meant a lot to me: Kathleen, a breast cancer survivor herself, who accompanied me to oncology appointments.”
Support on every level
“I was really shocked when I first heard the news,” says Ilse Vercaempst. “During lockdown, we had been cycling twice a week to prepare for a summer trip to climb Mont Ventoux. I felt sad for Severine, knowing how much she’d miss out on, but I never doubted she would get through this. Her own positivity makes a huge difference. And because she’s so open, we can talk about absolutely anything.”
Steven Declercq adds: “Because I work in healthcare, I look at the cancer journey a bit differently—maybe more technically than most people. I’m a surgical nurse, and I adjusted my schedule so I could be there for Severine at key moments. I’m not great at the emotional side of things, but that’s okay. Our cycling group is so diverse that everyone has a role to play. Everyone supports in their own way.”
Café lattes and long chats
During Severine’s first chemo, Steven gave her injections at home. For her surgeries—a double mastectomy and a procedure to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes—he was there in the operating room. In the hospital, he visited her every day, sometimes bringing her a delicious café latte. “His positive energy always lifted me up,” says Severine.
With Ilse, Severine often goes for walks. “I think it’s important to stay active, so I walk at least ten kilometers every day,” she says. “The fresh air helps me and reduces my migraines. Cycling is harder because chemo affects my balance. When Ilse and I walk, we chat nonstop. She sends me encouraging messages before every chemo session, hospital visit, or surgery. Her texts and small gestures mean so much. After my first surgery, she even visited me and did my ironing while we talked.”
To do: Mont Ventoux!
Severine couldn’t join the Mont Ventoux trip, but her friends surprised her with a photo at the summit: each holding a letter of her name or a heart. Ilse laughs: “The letters were in a backpack Christophe carried. At Chalet Reynard, 1,417 meters up, he got such severe cramps from the heat that he wanted to stop. But then he remembered he had those letters and knew he had to keep going—to bring Severine to the top symbolically.”
In 2021, the group’s cycling destination is Girona. “My treatment will last until June,” says Severine. “Because I can’t push myself too hard, I won’t prepare for a cycling trip this year. The fatigue is intense after so many chemo rounds. I’m going to listen to my body and avoid heavy cycling efforts for now. Maybe next year. Mont Ventoux isn’t going anywhere—it’ll stay on my to-do list!” Ilse adds with a smile: “I swore I’d never climb it again, but with Severine, I’m ready to take on the challenge one more time.”
Interview: Spring 2021
Curious about even more stories like this interview with Severine and her friends? You can read them all in our Personal Stories section >>
