August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Andrew Robson looks at how animals bounce back after illness and why humans should allow themselves the same compassion.

Illness can be a daunting journey, whether for humans or animals. I’ve been fortunate enough to see the incredible resilience animals have as they recover from serious illnesses or surgery. Their resilience serves as a powerful reminder for humans navigating their own health challenges, particularly those experiencing cancer.Ā  During my mom’s breast cancer journey, I often found myself leaning on my experience with pets. I found that understanding how animals recover can inspire humans to approach their…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Memory Bvochora-Nsingo explains that her burnout comes from working a job that never truly switches off.

I love my morning coffee. Every morning before work, I walk into the boardroom at Gaborone Private Hospital, sit with my colleagues, and allow the day to begin with laughter. Not polite laughter — real loud laughter. Many days, I’m one of the loudest people in the room. My colleagues oftenĀ ask, ā€œNgaka, why are you always so jovial?ā€ The truth is, I’m happy for many reasons. I have patients who survived. PatientsĀ who were once very sick but are now in…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Julianne Yates explores why talking openly about fear with family and loved ones is an essential part of navigating a cancer diagnosis.

Fear is one of the most predominant feelings that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. Regardless of the stage, location, and prognosis, cancer stirs fearĀ in everyone. For patients it may be the fear of treatment, side effects, even death. And for families of these patients, there is fear for their loved one, as well as fear for themselves regarding their ability toĀ care for their loved one, or their inability to change what is happening.Ā  Fear of talking…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

From patient-centred care and screening to counselling, advocacy, and a new Care Home, CANSA’s 95th anniversary reflects an organisation that continues to evolve to meet South Africa’s cancer burden.

Founded in 1931, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) has grown into one of South Africa’s leading cancer organisations, with a national footprint spanning research, education, advocacy, screening, care, and support. ā€œAs CANSA celebrates its 95th anniversary, we honour the past with gratitude, we serve in the present with compassion, and we continue building for the future with hope and determination,ā€ says CANSA CEO Elize Joubert. ā€œThis…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

After being assured by an oncologist that she didn’t have cancer, Nkamo Mpakanyane was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma a year later. She reflects on this journey.

Nkamogeleng (Nkamo) Mpakanyane (38) lives in Centurion, Gauteng, and has a 10-year-old son. In December 2023, Nkamo was feeling unwell. She put it down to work-related stress as her commute to work was long. She also had a swollen neck gland which had been there for a year; a doctor said it was a reaction to the COVID vaccine and that it was nothing to worry about.Ā  After a long day…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Lucille Sarah Singh answers the question of why male donors are preferred over female donors for stem cell transplants.

Let’s get started by stating upfront thatĀ  this has nothing to do with misogyny. The reasons are all tied up in biology and, more specifically, the remarkable changes that occur in a woman’s immune system when she becomes pregnant.Ā  Haematopoietic stem cells (harvested from the blood or bone marrow of donors) may carry with them antibody-producing immune cells which could cause short- and long-term complications after a transplant. Women who have been pregnant at any point in…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

We hear the incredible story of the resilient Zoey Da Silva and how immunotherapy became the breakthrough that gave her family the miracle they needed.

Zoey Da Silva (12) lives in Fourways, Gauteng with her mom, Melissa, and stepdad, Ricky. Her father is Paulo and her stepmom is Sarah. She has two younger siblings. In 2020, Zoey was unusually tired, quite pale, and developed lumps on the sides of Ā  her neck. Melissa took her to their GP.Ā  ā€œHe ordered blood tests which were inconclusive. He ordered more tests and shared them directly with a paediatric oncology…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Romana Jassat unpacks myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Myelofibrosis, a rare type of blood cancer, belongs to a group of blood disorders known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).Ā  Ā  It’s a complex disease with considerable variation in presentation, ranging from slowly progressive disease that remains stableĀ for years to more aggressive forms that significantly affect quality of life and survival. It affects the bone marrow, the soft, spongy tissue inside the bones where blood cells are produced. The bone marrow can be thought of as the body’s blood factory.Ā In myelofibrosis, this…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Garrick Laudin sheds light on why thrombocytopenia can develop during cancer and its impact on treatment.

Thrombocytopenia is the medical term for a low platelet count. It’s common in patients with both solid organ cancers (breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancer) and blood or lymph node cancers (leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma).Ā  What are platelets? Platelets are microscopic blood cells whose normal number and function are important for the formation of blood clots at sites where blood vessels become injured. They are produced in the bone marrow, the major site of adult blood cell production, before…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Prof Duvern Ramiah educates us on theĀ quiet revolution in prostate cancer treatment: stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Imagine being told that your prostate cancer can be cured. Now imagine being told that the treatment will require a trip to hospital every weekday for almost two months. For decades that was the reality forĀ  men receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Thirty-nine treatments. Eight weeks. Countless journeys to the hospital. Time away from work, family, and the ordinary routines that make life feel normal. But what if the same treatment couldĀ  be delivered in just five visits? That question has sparked…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Lisa Welsh explains what a penile implant involves, what the different types mean for your experience together, and how to ease back into intimacy in a way that feels good for both of you.

If your partner has been through prostate cancer treatment and has had a penile implant as a result, you might be feeling a mix of things. Hopeful. Curious. Maybe a little nervous about what sex will feel like now. That’s all completely normal, and you’re not alone in wondering. A bit of background Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common side effects…

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Linda Rogers unpacks how gynaecological cancers are screened and can be prevented.

In 1736 Benjamin Franklin said, ā€œAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,ā€ and this is still true today. Prevention is less costly in psychological, emotional, and physical suffering, as well as healthcare costs. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Understanding screening This process is where a test or investigation is done to detect malignant transformation or pre-cancers early. Characteristics of a good screening test are that it should be highly accurate (sensitive and specific),…