Far too often we forget the miraculous and incredible natural environment in which we live. Slow down and embrace the simple pleasures of nature and feel revived. Be in a nature mind-set Recognise that nature is not just a word, and the environment is not simply something we desperately need to take care of. But that it’s the air we breathe, and the space we thrive in. Go outside, lie on the ground and feel the dirt. Let your bare feet touch the grass. Stargaze As the sun is setting, take your kids outside, lift your eyes upward and stare into the…
An Bakkes’ story is set to change the lives of mothers facing the trauma of a cancer diagnosis. Diagnosed during first pregnancy At the age of 34, An was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma metastatic cancer. She was pregnant with her first child. The shock of the diagnosis was one that her doctor couldn’t bear to give her when he first found out. “My doctor postponed my appointment until the end of the weekend as he didn’t know how to tell a pregnant woman she has Stage 4 cancer,” An recalls. She went through the remaining months of her pregnancy…
There are no compromises for patients A registered nurse at the Cancer Treatment Centres of America (CTCA) hospital, Cheryl Lynn, said, “Nurses are at the centre of patient care, and for this reason, they can significantly influence the quality of care provided and, ultimately, patient outcomes.” To fully understand this statement, Lourein Smit, a local oncology nurse, tells us about what she faces every day.
Dr Cathy Agnew explains the importance of a good doctor-patient relationship.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), 30 – 40% of cancers can be reduced through lifestyle factors. These include diet and exercise, as well as the avoidance of cancer causing agents (called carcinogens) – and they can all help to reduce the cancer risk. As part of its Balanced Lifestyle campaign, CANSA offers pointers on how to reduce the cancer risk, by making informed lifestyle choices. “Some obvious choices in helping you reach healthy behaviour include the following; avoid tobacco use, exercise regularly, eat regularly choosing less processed foods, choose a combination of more raw or steam,…
Recently I read in a newspaper that Clint Eastwood is allergic to horses. That hawk-eyed killer with narrowed eyes and terminal coolness, with a rock-steady gun-hand, must have itched and sneezed uncontrollably. But he never let on. So it is with men. It isn’t cool to show weakness. When faced with issues in their lives, men enter a problem-solving mode. If it’s broken, it can be fixed! After all, men have conquered fire, harnessed the wheel, set foot on the moon. A whiff of cancer can surely be beaten if enough energy and thought is applied to the problem. Men are…
More and more often it seems that we hear of yet another family member, friend, or colleague battling cancer. This devastating disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million recorded cancer-related deaths in 2012. [1] This August, the Self-Medication Manufacturer’s Association of South Africa (SMASA) encouraged all women to educate themselves about those cancers that affect women, as early detection may help save their lives. Which factors increase your risk of developing cancer? There may not be a definitive answer to this question, but the World Health Organisation (WHO)…
People Living with Cancer (PLWC) is an umbrella organisation, which brings together various projects and people who are interested in making a difference in the lives of people living with cancer in South Africa. Cancer.vive is a special project of PLWC. The Cancer.vive survivors create awareness and honour those who have lost the battle. Activities of Cancer.vive include raising funds, which are utilised to drive cancer awareness, educational initiatives and campaigns with the emphasis on previously under-privileged communities. The 5th annual Cancer.vive Awareness Ride takes to the road from 10-19 September, with the main aim of getting communities across the…
Juliet Drozdz had just turned 40 when she received the devastating news from her doctor that she had a brain tumour. “My life came to a complete halt. In every way,” Juliet recalls. The days leading up to her diagnosis are still fresh in her mind. “I was on holiday in New York and my eyes were very watery. I remember the bright lights of Times Square really bugged me, so much so that I had to return to my hotel and lie in a dark room to recover.” Upon her return to South Africa, Juliet went to visit an…