Everything you need to know
before you reach out

Each session is a structured 60-minute conversation held via video call. We begin by checking in on where you are — physically, emotionally, mentally — then work through a specific focus area you bring, whether that's managing fear, rebuilding identity, navigating relationships, or preparing for a medical appointment. Sessions are guided but not scripted; they follow your needs. Between sessions, you'll have practices and reflections to integrate what we've explored.

Therapy typically focuses on processing past trauma and diagnosing psychological conditions. Coaching is forward-facing — it works with where you are now and where you want to go. A cancer coach is not a mental health clinician and does not diagnose or treat psychological disorders. If deeper therapeutic work is needed, we will say so and refer you appropriately. Coaching and therapy can run in parallel and often complement each other well.

Most clients begin with a 3-month programme (12 sessions), which provides enough time to build meaningful momentum and address multiple dimensions of the cancer journey. Some clients continue beyond that; others find a shorter intensive more suitable. We discuss this openly in the Discovery WhatsApp Call and review it regularly throughout the programme. There is no pressure to commit to more than feels right for you.

PEMS stands for Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual — the four dimensions of the whole person that cancer touches. Rather than addressing only symptoms or mindset in isolation, our coaching holds all four in view simultaneously. A session might focus on the emotional weight of a scan result while also exploring the mental narratives that amplify fear and the spiritual questions that arise around meaning and mortality. This integrated approach is what distinguishes ThriveThroughCancer from generic life coaching.

No. Coaching is valuable at every stage: newly diagnosed, mid-treatment, post-treatment, in remission, or living with a chronic cancer diagnosis. Each stage brings its own challenges. Post-treatment, for example, is often described as one of the loneliest phases — the medical support structure withdraws just as the psychological weight of what happened begins to land. We work with clients across all stages.

No. Cancer coaching is not a medical treatment, and Renny Letswalo is not a medical doctor, oncologist, or licensed mental health professional. Coaching does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Everything discussed in coaching sessions is complementary to — never a replacement for — your medical treatment plan. Always follow the guidance of your oncologist and medical team.

No coaching programme can guarantee any medical outcome, and we will never claim otherwise. What the research does show — and what we draw on — is that psychological wellbeing, stress reduction, and social support are associated with better quality of life, improved treatment tolerance, and in some studies, better clinical outcomes. We help you activate those factors. We do not promise or imply any specific medical result.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, severe depression, acute anxiety, or any mental health emergency, please contact a qualified mental health professional or emergency services immediately. Coaching is not equipped to manage mental health crises. In South Africa, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) helpline is available 24/7 at 0800 456 789. We take your safety seriously and will always refer you to appropriate professional support when needed.

Yes, and we encourage it. Transparency with your medical team is important. Most oncologists are supportive of complementary wellbeing support, and some actively recommend it. If you'd like, we can help you frame the conversation with your medical team about how coaching fits into your overall care plan.

We tailor all practices to your current treatment phase and physical capacity. We do not recommend any supplement, dietary change, or physical practice without first understanding your treatment protocol. Mindfulness, breathwork, journalling, and gentle movement are generally safe and widely used in integrative oncology settings — but we always defer to your medical team on anything that could interact with your treatment.

Yes, completely free and with no obligation. The Discovery Call is a 10-minute WhatsApp conversation where we get to know each other, you share where you are in your journey, and we explore whether coaching is the right fit for you right now. There is no sales pressure. If we're not the right match, we'll say so honestly and point you toward something more suitable.

All sessions are conducted via secure video call (Zoom or Google Meet), which means you can join from anywhere in the world — from your home, a quiet corner of a hospital, or wherever you feel most comfortable. We work with clients across South Africa, the UK, Europe, and internationally. You will receive a calendar link and video link after booking.

Renny is based in Johannesburg, South Africa (SAST, UTC+2). Sessions are available Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm SAST. For international clients, we work to find a time that suits your time zone. The contact page includes a live time zone converter to help you identify suitable slots before reaching out.

We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to reschedule or cancel a session. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice may be counted as a used session. We understand that cancer treatment schedules are unpredictable — if a medical appointment or treatment side effect forces a last-minute change, please let us know as soon as possible and we will always try to accommodate you.

We believe financial hardship should not be a barrier to support during one of life's most difficult seasons. We offer flexible payment plans for all programmes and, in limited cases, reduced-rate spots for clients experiencing genuine financial hardship. Please mention this during your Discovery WhatsApp Call — it will be handled with complete discretion and without judgment.

Most clients report feeling less alone, more grounded, and more capable of navigating the uncertainty of their diagnosis within the first few sessions. Over a full programme, clients typically experience reduced anxiety and fear, greater clarity about what matters most to them, improved communication with family and medical teams, a stronger sense of agency and identity beyond the diagnosis, and practical tools for managing the day-to-day weight of cancer. These are not guarantees — they are the patterns we see consistently when clients engage fully with the process.

Many clients notice a shift in perspective or emotional tone within the first 2–3 sessions. Deeper changes — in how you relate to fear, uncertainty, or your own identity — typically emerge over 6–12 weeks of consistent work. Coaching is not a quick fix, and we are honest about that. The most meaningful transformations take time and require your active participation between sessions.

We check in on this regularly and take your feedback seriously. If after 3–4 sessions you feel the approach isn't resonating, we will have an honest conversation about why and what might serve you better — whether that's a different coaching style, a different type of support, or a pause. We would rather you find what truly helps than continue something that isn't working.

Yes. We offer dedicated caregiver coaching for partners, parents, adult children, and close friends supporting someone with cancer. Caregivers carry an enormous and often invisible burden — they are frequently the last to ask for help. Our caregiver programme addresses compassion fatigue, communication challenges, grief, and the complex emotions of loving someone through a life-threatening illness.

Yes. A growing body of research in psycho-oncology supports the effectiveness of structured psychological support for cancer patients. Studies published in journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Psycho-Oncology, and Supportive Care in Cancer show that coaching and psychological interventions reduce anxiety and depression, improve quality of life, enhance treatment adherence, and in some studies correlate with better clinical outcomes. We are happy to share specific research references on request.