Yolandi de Jonge was diagnosed with the illness when she was just 21 and working in Jersey for a five-month period.
Yesterday she underwent a double mastectomy in South Africa, her home country.
Her family and friends there have set up a trust fund and have so far collected half of the £4,000 total cost of the operation.
The surgery could have been carried out in Jersey, at no cost, which would have included trips to Guernsey and Southampton for various stages of the treatment.
However, that would have extended Miss de Jonge’s visa, which would have expired, with the result that she would not have been entitled to any sickness benefit – available only when someone is resident for five years.
Miss de Jonge came to the Island to work for a short time and was employed at the Alpha shop in the departures hall at Jersey Airport.
When her colleagues at the shop learned that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, they were determined to raise £2,000 to help her out.
