This issue is full of Power People who are doing superb advocating and awareness in their own right. Even though this issue highlights the strength and resilience of many, it also shows the sad reality of what cancer patients have to face with medical schemes, public healthcare systems, and life-saving drugs that cost a fortune, all the while trying to defeat mortality. It’s doesn’t seem fair.
The good news though is it seems immunotherapy, pembrolizumab in a particular, is saving many lives as we see in Philip Botha’s story From preparing for death to living in wonder as well as Raymond Pleaner’s story Fighting the good fight. But one cycle costs R82 000, with most patients needing more than one. Very few people can afford these costs. Raymond Pleaner shares, “I’m not only advocating for myself but also for those who can’t afford it.”
Treatment declined by René Botha gives us insight on why medical schemes decline treatment based on evidence-based guidelines, and advocates to take out further insurance, if you’re able to.
We learn more about Clinical trials, thanks to Teresa Smit and Debbie Peters while Heleen Feldmann, who has metastatic melanoma cancer, shares The trial of my life.
No matter how many articles Bonni Suckling’s writes, tears are shed reading every single one of them. Read The unspoken long-term side effects of childhood brain cancer.
Remember we are all advocates, share your knowledge and let’s talk about cancer.
Laurelle Williams
Editor – Word for Word Media
I N T H I S I S S U E
More than everyday nutrition
We learn the factual reasons behind why you need more than everyday nutrition when facing a cancer diagnosis and treatment. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies This is why day-to-day management of your emotional and physical well-being is of utmost importance.2 Focusing on nutritional support [...]
Philip Botha – From preparing for death to living in wonder
Philip Botha was preparing for death until his medical aid approved a new immunotherapy drug to treat his bladder cancer. He shares his phenomenal story with us. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Philip Botha (60) lives in Randburg, Gauteng with his wife. They have [...]
Cancer Alliance v MEC for Health, Gauteng
While judgement is still underway, Khanyisa Mapipa helps us understand the case of Cancer Alliance v MEC for Health, Gauteng, and 10 others. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Section 27(1)(a) of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to access healthcare services. This [...]
Treatment declined
René Botha underlines the reasons why medical aids may decline treatments and offers other insurance options to help cover this shortfall. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Following a cancer diagnosis, you often see several specialists within a short amount of time and then get presented [...]
Raymond Pleaner – Fighting the good fight
Raymond Pleaner shares the dispute he had with his medical scheme to get immunotherapy treatment approved. Thankfully, the end result was in his favour. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Raymond Pleaner (70) lives in Sandton, Gauteng with his wife, Marcelle. They have three children and nine grandchildren. [...]
The pitfalls of bed rest
Megan McLoskey unpacks how prolonged periods of bed rest causes muscle mass loss and offers guidance to achieve a smoother recovery. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies During a cancer journey, you may spend prolonged periods of bed rest at home or in a hospital, either [...]
The role of a haematology case manager
Jacki Van Niekerk details what a haematology case manager does and their role in the haematology cancer journey. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Before we look at the role of a haematology case manager, let’s differentiate between the two different types of case managers. Clinical case [...]
New hope in PARP inhibitors
Dr Trudy Smith shares how advancements in genetics and targeted therapies, such as PARP inhibitors, are reshaping the landscape of ovarian cancer. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Ovarian cancer is one of the most challenging malignancies to diagnose and treat, due in part to [...]
How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
Dr Daleen Geldenhuys lists the various diagnostic tests that may be done to diagnose bladder cancer. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies The diagnosis of any cancer starts with acting on abnormal symptoms and reporting those to your general practitioner. Bladder cancer symptoms Haematuria (blood in [...]
Jacqui O’Sullivan – Finding strength in community
Jacqui O’Sullivan shares a glimpse of her ongoing battle with ovarian cancer and how her community is pulling her through. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Jacqui O’Sullivan lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng with her husband and two sons. The past five months have been a whirlwind; an [...]
Heleen Feldmann – The trial of my life
Heleen Feldmann shares her current experience of being on a drug trial for advanced melanoma cancer. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Heleen Feldmann (44) lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng with her husband and three adult children. As a child, I always thought people in their forties [...]
Clinical trials
Teresa Smit and Debbie Peters inform us of what clinical trials not only offer patients but healthcare staff too. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Clinical trials are a unique opportunity to get state-of-the-art treatment for free. They give patients access to new products and [...]
The unspoken long-term the side effects of childhood brain cancer
With May being Brain Cancer Awareness Month, Bonni Suckling highlights the effects of childhood brain cancer treatment and how the journey never really ends. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies When my son, Jed, was diagnosed with brain cancer, I learned that the aftermath of [...]
Your tongue health
Melanie Wright explores tongue health and what it reveals about your well-being, as well as signs of tongue cancer. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Your tongue plays a crucial role in daily life; helping with speaking, tasting, chewing, and swallowing. But have you ever considered how [...]
Cross-species cancer research
Andrew Robson explores cross-species cancer research and how cancer studies in animals contribute to understanding and treating human cancers. You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Cancer is a universal challenge that affects humans and animals alike. While often seen as a human disease, cancer also impacts pets and wildlife. [...]
Read Super Survivor Puleng Makhetha’s story I’m my own advocate and how she educated herself by listening to other survivor stories and then requested certain testing.
The 2025 Big C Survivor’s Guide: How is it diagnosed?
This year we have focused on the diagnostic procedures of various cancers (solid tumours, blood cancers, and childhood cancers) to help you understand what tests will be done, why they are done, and which doctors are likely to do them, as well as the referral pathway. Our hope is that this will outline what you can expect.
Check out the Big C Survivor Guides
We still have The Big C Online Directory to help you find any A-Z listing of all things cancer related.