Taking a giant leap – Sarah Smit
When faced with an ovarian cancer diagnosis three months before your wedding, at the age of 25, what do you do? Sarah Smit bravely chose to go ahead with the wedding plans. Sarah Smit (28) lives in Centurion, Gauteng with her husband, Pieter. Sarah and Pieter met on New Year’s Eve in 2008. They started dating [...]
Should cancer patients get the flu vaccine?
Dr Jason Naicker tells us why the inactivated flu vaccine is best for most cancer patients. The flu vs. a common cold Influenza (flu) and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses. But they are caused by different viruses. Yet have similar symptoms. In general, flu is worse and symptoms are more intense. People with [...]
Female fertility preservation
Dr Chris Venter educates us on the fertility preservation options for female cancer patients. When someone is confronted with the devastating diagnosis of cancer, the immediate goal is to survive the cancer. In the past decades, there has been a sharp increase of survivors of cancer. This is due to advancements in cancer therapy and earlier [...]
Oncofertility gets the limelight
A dedicated oncofertility session was held at the SASREG - ISGE and ESGE Congress 2019. The International Society for Gynaecologic Endoscopy (ISGE) and the European Society of Gynaecological Endoscopists (ESGE) 2019 Congress was hosted by the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) in Cape Town from 14 - 17 April. The theme [...]
Targeting brain tumours
Dr Nirasha Chiranjan informs us about the new developments in radiotherapy in the treatment of brain tumours. Radiotherapy can prolong survival in most malignant brain tumours and may be curative in others. In the setting of benign and malignant brain tumours, radiotherapy may be used solely; may be used before or after surgery; and may be [...]
OHANCAW free screenings
Free oral, head and neck cancer screenings were offered on 10 April at Menlyn Maine Central Square, in Pretoria, by Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (OHANCAW) South Africa. The US Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA), along with more than 400 national and international screening sites, offered individuals to get screened for oral, [...]
Breastfeeding and ovarian cancer
Dr Sumayya Ebrahim addresses the important questions around breastfeeding and ovarian cancer. The benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby are widely proven and accepted. The anti-cancer benefits of breastfeeding, in relation to breast cancer, are also firmly established. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life for [...]
Fighting for cheaper life-saving medicines – lenalidomide
Salomé Meyer informs us of the recent picket held outside the WHO Fair Pricing Forum at Emperors Palace, Gauteng. Civil society meeting “Cancer is the new HIV!” is how Mark Heywood, former executive director of Section27, described the cancer crisis in SA at the Civil Society Stakeholder meeting arranged between Cancer Alliance and Treatment Action [...]
Advocating advocacy
All cancer survivors and people touched by cancer are encouraged to step up and add their voice to the efforts made by Cancer Alliance to address the cancer care crisis in SA. Why should cancer patients be involved in advocacy? As cancer advocates, we are the watchdogs regarding improved service delivery to cancer patients; getting more [...]