Girl Talk Archives

Girl Talk Chenel Botha – With tears and laughter

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

Chenel Botha shares how her a metastatic vaginal cancer diagnosis has made her family closer, with tears and laughter.

Chenel Botha (49) lives in Alberton, Gauteng with her fiancé. She has two children (from her first marriages) and two grandchildren. Chenel was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in October 2019. She experienced bleeding which came as a shock as she had a hysterectomy (only her ovaries remained) in 2012. “I had pelvic and back pain but kept brushing it off,” she says. “I usually go for my annual gynae check-up in January, but it was July and I still hadn’t gone…

Cervical Cancer Managing menopause in cervical cancer survivors

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Dr Trudy Smith addresses the needs of younger cervical cancer survivors when managing menopause.

Menopause is a natural phase of life for most women, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. However, for women treated for cervical cancer, particularly those who receive radiation, chemotherapy, or surgical removal of the ovaries, menopause can occur much earlier and more abruptly. One such patient, in her early 40s, found herself facing premature menopause after undergoing treatment. Her experience highlights a growing concern among younger cancer survivors: the lack of adequate support and tailored guidance for women navigating early treatment-induced menopause. Premature menopause after cervical…

Girl Talk Endometriosis and the link to female cancers

February 10, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Dr Sumayya Ebrahim sheds light on the link between endometriosis and female cancers.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Endometriosis is a medical condition that occurs when endometrial cells exist outside the uterus – in or around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, in the pelvic cavity, and distant organs. Normally these cells are only found in the uterine lining. Here, they usually grow during the hormonal cycle and shed as menstruation during a period. Women who have endometriosis can struggle with severe period cramps, chronic pelvic…

Girl Talk Melanoma and pregnancy: all the facts

April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Sumayya Ebrahim states all the current findings and facts regarding melanoma and pregnancy.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

The incidence of melanoma has been steadily increasing over the last 40 years. Whilst the peak incidence occurs at 65 years, statistics show that about one third of female patients will be diagnosed with melanoma in their childbearing years. Pregnancy associated melanoma (PAM) is defined as any melanoma diagnosed during pregnancy or up to one year after delivery. Impact of pregnancy on melanoma There is significant debate in…

Girl Talk Ovarian cysts

June 1, 2022 Word for Word Media

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Dr Sumayya Ebrahim explains why women get ovarian cysts, how are they treated and if they can become cancerous.

Almost all genetic females will have two ovaries that form part of the internal reproductive organs. Each is situated lower down in the pelvic region of the body. The function of the ovaries is to produce hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ovaries are also responsible for storing all our eggs, from the time of birth until none are left at menopause. It’s within each ovary that the cyclical process of ovulation takes place. An ovarian cyst is…

Girl Talk HPV school-based vaccine campaign

March 28, 2022 Word for Word Media

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Integrated School Health Programme Manager, National Department of Health, Feni Motshwane, details the success of the HPV school-based vaccine campaign thus far. When did the HPV school-based vaccine campaign start? The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign was introduced in SA, in March 2014, in the public health sector. This school-based vaccination campaign was launched by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motswaledi, and Deputy Minister, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, in Bloemfontein, Free State. Why was it started? The intended long-term strategic goal of the HPV school-based vaccine campaign is to reduce the risk of cervical cancer in future women, which is a high national priority. …

Girl Talk What is a cone biopsy?

December 2, 2021 Word for Word Media

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Gynaecologist, Dr Sumayya Ebrahim, details what a cone biopsy is and why this special cervical biopsy is needed. A biopsy of the cervix is advised generally when a Pap smear detects abnormal cells. Because a Pap smear is only a screening test, a biopsy gives more accurate information regarding the extent of the abnormality. A cervical biopsy is usually done in conjunction with a colposcopy (using a microscope and special stains to examine the cervix). This information will then inform decisions about further treatment. Types of cervical biopsies Punch biopsy – This is usually done with a colposcopy. The instrument used to remove a…

Cervical Cancer Carcinoma of the cervix

August 2, 2021 Word for Word Media

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Dr Nirasha Chiranjan, a radiation oncologist, revises the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix. South Africa has a high incidence of carcinoma of the cervix and it is a leading cause of cancer mortality. of all gynaecological cancers, cervical cancer is the focus of the most government public policy work and active intervention. This is largely because cervical cancer is the only gynaecological cancer that can be detected in a precancerous stage through population screening. In nations that run organised screening programmes, cervical cancer screening has been one of the great public health successes of the…

Girl Talk Pregnancy after cancer therapy

September 29, 2020 Word for Word Media

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Dr Chris Venter clarifies when it is safe to start a pregnancy after cancer therapy. Over the past four decades, advancements in early detection and chemotherapeutics have led to dramatic improvements in cancer survival. A large proportion of these survivors are women and men of reproductive age. One of the strongest predictors of emotional well-being is the desire to become a parent. Addressing the patient’s fertility concerns is important prior to, but also during and after cancer therapy. Common questions that arise are: What effect will cancer treatment have on my fertility? Will the cancer treatment increase my risk of having an abnormal child?…

Girl Talk Pap smear: fast facts

February 3, 2020 Word for Word Media

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Most women today know what a Pap smear is or have had one or even a few. Dr Sumayya Ebrahim educates us on this procedure. What is a Pap smear? It’s a screening test for the early detection and screening of cervical cancer. It’s named after a Greek doctor, Dr Papanicolou, who first published his work on this in 1928. The cervix is the part of the female reproductive organs that is also typically called the mouth of the uterus. Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer seen in women in SA under the age of 40. The tragedy is…

Girl Talk Gynaecological cancers

September 30, 2019 Word for Word Media

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September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month; Dr Nirasha Chiranjan educates us on the two most common gynaecological cancers in South Africa. Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month aims to encourage women to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease and preventive strategies. It’s a month that encourages women to openly speak about their health without shame or embarrassment. It highlights the need for better sex education amongst both men and women. Early detection can lead to effective treatment and a better prognosis. What are gynaecological cancers? Malignancies that develop in a woman’s reproductive tract. These include cervical-, ovarian-, vulvar-endometrial- and…

Girl Talk Breastfeeding and ovarian cancer

May 30, 2019 Word for Word Media

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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 the health of both mother and child, and continuation of breastfeeding for two years and beyond, alongside other food and drinks. Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. It’s responsible for more deaths than any other cancer of the female…