AprMay2023 Archives

For the boys Second-generation antiandrogens

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

We learn about new treatment options for advanced prostate cancer: second-generation antiandrogens.

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

What is advanced prostate cancer (APC)? APC is diagnosed when treatments for localised prostate cancer have failed or when men present with symptoms of advanced disease. Prostate cancer (PC) initially starts to grow in the prostate and in the early stages the cancer is contained there (localised PC). If the cancer continues to grow and is left untreated, it eventually breaks out of the prostate and begins to invade the…

Ovarian Cancer Know your hereditary risk for developing ovarian cancer

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Genetic counsellor, Monica Araujo, helps us understand the hereditary risk and factors for developing ovarian cancer.

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

What is ovarian cancer? The ovaries are a pair of female organs that produce hormones and eggs for sexual reproduction. In ovarian cancer, certain cells in the ovary become abnormal and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumour. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells make new cells that aren’t needed by the body and don’t die when they should. Cancer cells can also grow into other tissues. Over…

One-on-One Magda Rall – In her words

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Magda Rall was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer last year. She shares some profound writings of her experience and how she currently sees life.

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

Magda Rall (75), a widow, lives in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. She has two adult children. Magda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and underwent a radical mastectomy. Twenty-two years later, in September 2022, she was diagnosed with a new primary cancer in her lung with metastases on the brain after suffering a black out and a MRI scan was…

Patient Stories Allen Rizzi – The long tunnel

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Prostate cancer survivor, Allen Rizzi, has written a book to help newly diagnosed men prepare for treatment. He tells us more.

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

Allen Rizzi (74) lives in North Carolina, USA and Northern Italy with his wife. As I was cruising down life’s highway, I always felt pretty good about my health, often taking it for granted. I had been a professional surfer in my younger years and an outdoorsman and traveller all of my life, always eating well and exercising regularly. For the…

Skin Cancer The role of radiotherapy in skin cancer

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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René Botha explains when radiotherapy is appropriate to be used as treatment for skin cancer and the types of skin cancer it can be used for.

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

The skin is the largest organ of the body and skin cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. When skin cancers are diagnosed early, most can be cured. Skin cancers are classified according to which cell type within the skin they originate from and are divided into melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The most common…

Bladder Cancer Bothersome bladders

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Dr Mia Hugo gives us a brief overview of how bothersome bladders may become bladder cancer.

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

Where do we find bladder cancer? Bladder cancer is a world traveller, with a special liking for high income countries (HICs). It accounts for 3% of global cancer diagnoses and it’s the 10th most common cancer worldwide. According to GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates for SA, bladder cancer is recorded as the 12th most common cancer. Bladder cancer has an incidence rate that is three-times greater in HICs…

Brain Cancer Primary brain tumours

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daleen Geldenhuys educates us on how primary brain tumours are diagnosed and treated.

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

Tumours of the central nervous system are divided into distinct groups and varies in presentation and prognosis. There are benign and malignant tumours affecting the brain. Malignant tumours of the brain can be subdivided into primary tumours that start in the brain versus secondary tumours that have metastasised from other primary cancers, such as lung, colon, breast and others. Some of the symptoms and signs of both primary…

Real Talk Telling your child’s teacher you have cancer

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Avril de Beer explains the support advantages for your child when you inform their teacher about your cancer diagnosis.

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

A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering experience. Every aspect of your life is affected by your diagnosis and your treatment. You might feel sad, overwhelmed, and scared. As a parent, you might be worried about the impact of your diagnosis and treatment on your children’s lives. Since your children spend most of their waking hours at school, their teachers are in the best…

Cancer Care Delirium in cancer care

March 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Dr Kerry-Ann Louw expands on why a cancer patient may experience delirium, the causes, treatment and prevention thereof.

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

Delirium is a syndrome of brain dysfunction which presents with sudden onset of disturbance of awareness, attention, and cognitive function. Delirium is the most common neuropsychiatric complication we see in patients with cancer. The prevalence rate of delirium is up to 30% on hospital admission and up to 85% in the terminal phase of illness. Delirium is often missed because it has a fluctuating…