Feb-Mar 2026 | Blue = Contentment Archives

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

Have you ever wondered where the cancer ribbon originated? Nadia Booysen shares her research.

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It all started in the early mid-1900s, when the yellow ribbon was originally used in a United States military marching song, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree. This was inspired by the wife of a hostage held in Iran from 1979-1981. She used the yellow ribbon to show support for hostages and to remind others of…

In the Spotlight What is personalised medicine?

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Kusha Kalideen explains personalised medicine, its benefits and limitations.

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Quite simply, personalised medicine is an emerging medical approach which aims to deliver the right drug to the right patient, at the right time, at the right dose, and through the right route of administration. This approach is transforming medical care and moves from the conventional one-size-fits-all approach treatment of patients to tailoring the treatment to the patient’s specific characteristics. Often referred to as…

Side Effects Nutrition-related side effects of chemotherapy

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Robyn van der Westhuizen lists ways to deal with nutrition-related side effects caused by chemotherapy.

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Chemotherapy targets cancer cells, but it can also affect healthy cells involved in digestion, taste, and appetite. These side effects may make eating difficult and can lead to weight loss, muscle loss, dehydration, and fatigue. The goal of nutrition support during chemotherapy is to help maintain strength, body weight, and quality of life while making eating as…

Hot Topics Can I use GLP-1 medications if I have cancer or am a cancer survivor?

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Dr Michelle King unpacks when a cancer survivor is eligible to take GLP-1 medications.

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GLP-1 agonists are currently all the rage. These include medications, such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide that have been widely popularised by celebrities for their weight loss benefits. They were originally developed for people with Type 2 diabetes and later for management of obesity. These medications help balance blood glucose by stimulating insulin secretion and suppressing glucagon secretion; are…

Anal Cancer SA’s most ignored disease: Anal cancer

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Dr Mark Faesen advocates why South Africa needs a proper anal cancer screening programme for at-risk populations.

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Despite South Africa’s status as home to the world’s largest population living with HIV, the country has made no progress in addressing anal cancer screening and prevention. The absence of anal Pap smears and proper cancer screening guidelines leaves at-risk populations vulnerable, with this disease receiving almost no attention. HIV significantly elevates the risk of anal…

Patient Stories Thelma Lomkwane – Reaching contentment

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Thelma Lomkwane is content with life after colon cancer. She shares her story.

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Thelma Lomkwane (59) lives in Soweto, Gauteng with her husband. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. In November 2022, Thelma went for a routine check-up. Her blood count was extremely low, so she was admitted to hospital where she received 10 pints of blood and to find the cause. She underwent scans; bleeding in the colon was…

Know your cancer Colorectal screening

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Dr Thobile Goba-Mjwara gives us a rundown on what is needed to implement a colorectal cancer screening programme in SA.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for about 10% of all malignancies, making it the third most common cancer worldwide. Incidence rates and mortality are, however, increasing in low and middle-income countries while stabilising in high-income countries. In recent years, CRC has been diagnosed at an earlier age with patients presenting with more advanced disease….

Beyond the diagnosis Sandra Keddie – Finding out I have Lynch syndrome

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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After being diagnosed with endometrial and then colon cancer, Sandra Keddie underwent genetic testing for Lynch syndrome which was positive. She tells her story.

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Sandra Keddie (61) lives in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal with her husband. Learning about Lynch syndrome It was through her cousin that Sandra first learnt about Lynch syndrome, a hereditary cancer-predisposition syndrome that significantly increases the likelihood of developing several different cancers and sometimes at an earlier age than typically expected….

Kidney Cancer When is dialysis needed in kidney cancer?

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daleen Geldenhuys helps us understand when dialysis is needed in kidney cancer treatment.

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What is dialysis? Dialysis is a life-saving treatment that filters waste products and excess fluid from the body when one or both kidneys fail to do so. There are two ways to perform dialysis: Haemodialysis, which uses an external machine to filter blood, using a special intravenous catheter or an arteriovenous fistula (created by a vascular surgeon to…

Beyond the diagnosis Eric and Thersia Vorster – United in the fight

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Eric and Thersia Vorster share how they were forced to upgrade their medical aid to get Eric treatment for Stage 4 kidney cancer.

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Eric Vorster (67) lives in Heidelberg, Gauteng with his wife, Thersia. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Stage 1 kidney cancer In early 2016, Eric was diagnosed with Stage 1 kidney cancer. He had no symptoms, but it was picked up during a sonar regarding his prostate. His prostate…

Multiple myeloma Genetic influences in multiple myeloma

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Lisa Mertens gives a brief outline of genetic influences in multiple myeloma.

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Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow, the spongy-looking centre of the large bones. The word myeloma refers to marrow, while multiple myeloma explains that this cancer typically affects multiple bones in the body. Small error with big effects New blood cells are constantly needed to maintain a steady supply. The body forms an estimated 10 billion…

Hodgkin Lymphoma Classical Hodgkin lymphoma

February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Dr Sharlene Parasnath explains the treatment landscape and patient journey of classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

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Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a cancer of the lymphatic system and one of the great success stories of modern oncology. It’s highly curable, even when diagnosed at advanced stages.2 Yet, in South Africa (SA), many patients still present late, with Stage 3 or 4 disease, often after weeks or months of unexplained fevers, weight loss, night sweats,…