Oncology Buddies magazine

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

Joining a support group can help you during your cancer diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

Bosom Buddies A Breast Health Foundation initiative. A safe space for breast cancer patients, survivors, families, and friends to connect face-to-face, share experiences, and listen to expert talks on breast health and survivorship. mybreast.org.za | 0860 283 343 | [email protected]

Cancer Heroes A monthly (every third Wednesday)in-person support group hosted at MH&P-Rehab Matters. Tel: 011 966 5249 / Email: [email protected]

[vc_row_inner…

For the boys The benefits of support groups

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

We learn about the benefits of support groups, specifically treatment specific support groups for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is known to cause significant psychosocial distress, with 30-50% of men reporting a psychosocial burden due to their diagnosis, regardless of disease stage or progression.1 The initial diagnosis of cancer is usually highly stressful for men and their families. This is followed by the anxiety of deciding which is the best treatment option (in settings where options are available), followed by coping with side effects that are often highly embarrassing and frustrating for men. The subsequent ongoing monitoring further adds to the…

Cancer Care Meet the faces behind the CANSA Help Desk

June 1, 2022 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

We learn more about how the CANSA Help Desk works and the people who run it. About the CANSA Help Desk Approximately 12 000 queries per year are received across all CANSA platforms. The Help Desk function covers emails received, comments on the website, queries via national and regional Facebook pages and via their three Facebook Support Groups (for patients, caregivers and parents of children with cancer), Twitter and Instagram, and also via their English and Afrikaans WhatsApp line and their African languages WhatsApp line (isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana).

CANSA Help Desk Manager…

Online Features Connect with Hope: CANSA Tele Counselling

July 29, 2020 Word for Word Media

#SpreadTheHope

This Nelson Mandela Day the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) gives back to cancer patients, those affected by cancer and caregivers by launching its CANSA Tele Counselling service. The CANSA Tele Counselling service is confidential, professional, cancer-related telephonic counselling to cancer patients, caregivers and their families and parents or guardians of children living with cancer. Counselling is available in seven languages (English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana) and is free of charge. Gerda Strauss, CANSA’s Head of Service Delivery says, “We challenge all to take action and to inspire change this Mandela Day, by donating and sponsoring 67 minutes of…

Head and Neck Cancer CanSurvive Rivonia Head & Neck Cancer Support Group

December 11, 2015 Laurelle Williams

#SpreadTheHope

The vision of the support group was started by Angelo Haggiyannes, a man who suffered from head and neck cancer and who was passionate about giving the patient a voice. He wanted to offer a safe place to anyone affected by head and neck cancer. A place to share stories or simply speak to someone who may understand what one’s day has been like. Sadly, Angelo passed away in September 2013. In his honour, our Head & Neck Support Group was formed. The first meeting was in November 2013. The informal and supportive meetings are held from 18h00 to 20h00…