Celebrate your age out loud is this issue’s theme and with that Avril de Beer explains How age plays a role in your treatment. Keeping age in mind, Ana Costa was surprised at how well her husband, Norberto, aged 65, has done during chemotherapy. Read their sweet story A real give and take.
I love how Dirk Human speaks openly about how his diagnosis caused him to feel depressed and how he quickly learnt the importance of sharing what he was feeling with his family for them to better understand what he was going through. Read Open and upfront in our special feature Oncology Man, plus Men in Crisis where Dr Chris van den Berg expands on the mental health of South African men.
Campaigning for Cancer gives sound advice to ensure you Get the best possible treatment, while GIST Support International educate us on Gastrointesrinal stromal tumours: frequently asked questions.
Enjoy this issue!
Laurelle Williams
editor@wordforwordmedia.co.za
Photo by Antoinette van Staden Photography | Follow on Facebook & Instagram
IN THIS ISSUE
The experiences of fertility preservation
Charlene Purdy shares the outcome of her master’s thesis: Exploring the subjective experiences of fertility preservation among cancer survivors in South Africa. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Globally cancer is characterised as a complex and life-threatening disease, affecting one in every five women and [...]
Graft-versus-host disease
Dr Sharlene Parasnath explains what graft-versus-host disease is in regard to allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has the potential to cure life-threatening blood cancers and other blood and bone marrow disorders, including leukaemia [...]
Adapt Estate Administration – Taking control and easing the burden
Louw-Mari Nell speaks openly about losing her youngest sister, Liezl, to lung cancer and how this has driven her to help grieving families by starting Adapt Estate Administration without prolonging or deepening their sense of loss. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Louw-Mari Nell (45) [...]
Get the best possible treatment
As an oncology patient, you have loads of questions, especially when dealing with your medical aid to ensure the best possible treatment is covered. Campaigning for Cancer helps navigate this tricky terrain by explaining terminology and the meaning behind it and offers services to help attain the best possible treatment. You can listen to this [...]
Diet and active colon cancer treatment
Meagan Atcheson expands on diet and active colon cancer treatment. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies When you are faced with a colorectal cancer diagnosis, nutrition can be an important part of your journey. Eating a well-balanced diet during and after cancer treatment can help you feel better, [...]
Colorectal cancer
Dr Daleen Geldenhuys gives us an explanatory rundown on colorectal cancer and the treatment thereof. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Incidence Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequent cancer worldwide and can be prevented by early detection and removal of precancerous lesions. It’s the third most common [...]
Norberto and Ana Costa – A true give and take
We hear how married couple, Norberto and Ana Costa, faced three cancer diagnoses without medical aid, with their love and sense of humour carrying them through. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Norberto (65) and Ana Costa (59) live in Edenvale, Gauteng. They have two sons and [...]
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours – FAQ
GIST Support International share the most frequently asked questions regarding gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies What is GIST? GISTs are rare cancers affecting the digestive tract or nearby structures within the abdomen. A GIST is a sarcoma (cancer that grows [...]
Why fevers should be taken seriously in cancer patients
Dr Sarita Retief explains why fevers are emergencies in cancer patients and explains the four probable causes. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Fevers are a common and worrisome symptom in cancer patients. Causes can broadly be divided in four categories: Infections during immune suppression after chemotherapy. [...]
How age plays a role in your treatment
Social worker, Avril de Beer, explains the various life stages you could be in when diagnosed and how this and age plays a role in your treatment plan. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies In your 20s At this age as a young adult, you [...]
Mental health – Men in crisis
Dr Chris van den Berg expands on the mental health of South African men. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies My own awakening about the mental health crisis in South African men happened when viewing a statistic: an average of 14-18 South African men die [...]
Dirk Human – Open and upfront
Once Dirk Human was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he learnt quickly how imperative it was to share what he was feeling with his family for them to better understand his experience. You can listen to this articles below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies Dirk Wynand Human (51) lives in Pretoria, Gauteng [...]
RESOURCES
To honour Men’s Health Month (June), we feature Dr Langa Mbhele, a male breast cancer survivor on the cover, who admits that if his wife didn’t push him to get his nipple discharge seen to, he would have delayed it as much as possible. He also tells us about the transition From doctor to patient.
Word For Word Media are pleased to present The 2023 Big C Survivor’s Guide, with the focus being the top five cancers
in South African women and men. We have also included the top five cancers affecting children. To all the survivors, our hope is that this booklet will assist in your journey, no matter how big or small, as long as you know you are not alone; we are here for you, we are oncology buddies.
We still have The Big C Online Directory to help you find any A-Z listing of all things cancer related.