June-July 2024 - The path to innovation Archives

Survivorship Transitioning from cancer treatment

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

Gabriella Kourie offers simple ways to make transitioning from cancer treatment to your new normal that much gentler.

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

Many cancer survivors have reported that although they had good information and support during their illness, once treatment stops and they enter into their new world, there are many questions that come with anxiety and navigating more unknowns. Tips to keep in mind when coming out of active treatment Have open and honest conversations with the people around you It’s difficult for…

Colon Cancer Graeme Le Roux – It was a no-brainer

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Graeme Le Roux tells us how cryoablation saved him from having major surgery, to remove a cancerous tumour, that would have left him with a urostomy bag.

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

Graeme Le Roux (56) lives in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal with his wife, Nicci, and their two children, aged 23 and 19. Graeme has had health issues since he was 29 years old; he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract, which causes severe…

Counting Pennies Is cancer a matter of life and debt?

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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René Botha gives sound advice to help you understand what your medical aid or insurance will cover and how to avoid unwanted debt.

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

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is very overwhelming. You are given a vast amount of information in a short amount of time and it’s a lot to process. As you start to process, a huge concern (for many patients) is the cost of all the tests and treatments. If you have medical aid or medical insurance, you are…

Brain Cancer Unveiling the invisible scalpel: Gamma Knife surgery

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Sylvia Rodrigues explores the power of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and why it’s becoming an increasingly preferred choice for patients with various brain conditions.

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

Gamma Knife SRS is a cutting-edge medical procedure that offers precise, non-invasive treatment for various brain conditions. Despite its name, it doesn’t involve actual surgery; instead, it utilises highly-focused radiation beams to target specific areas of the brain with remarkable accuracy. The first Gamma Knife was developed, in 1967, by Lars Leksell, a Swedish…

In the Spotlight How does the SANBS STS Department help cancer patients?

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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We all know that blood donations saves lives, but how does the Specialised Therapeutic Services Department at The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) help cancer patients? We learn more.

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

SANBS is committed to providing blood products and services to all of our patients, a large number of those patients are affected by cancer. We aim to be a reliable centre of excellence to support our patients through the toughest times. At SANBS, there are multiple departments that work in…

Real Talk Innovation as a life process

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Sandra Bollen-Hughes unpacks the term innovation and depicts how it can be used in your cancer journey.

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

To get juices flowing when writing about a topic, it’s often useful to look up the definition of the main concept. With due diligence, I looked up the definition of innovation and found it to be: “The process of bringing about new ideas, methods, products, services, or solutions that have a significant positive impact and value.” I found this definition tantalizing in psychological…

Cancer Care Radiotherapy: the powerful and versatile ally

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Radiotherapy is one of the pillars of cancer treatment. We take an in-depth look at what this treatment modality can achieve.

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

Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery serve as the cornerstone of cancer treatment, offering hope and healing to millions around the globe. Radiotherapy has the ability to deploy high-energy particles or rays to target and eradicate cancer cells; it represents a powerful weapon in the fight against cancer. Chemotherapy takes a systemic route, deploying powerful drugs to seek out and…

Brain Cancer Dylan-Jay Vankeirsbilck: My first-ever operation

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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In honour of International Cancer Survivors Day, Dylan-Jay Vankeirsbilck shares his experience of his first-ever operation, a full neck dissection, that eventually led to an oesophageal cancer diagnosis.

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

Dylan-Jay Vankeirsbilck (34) lives in East London. In March 2022, while at work Dylan-Jay noticed a little lump on the right side of his neck. Thinking it could just be an enlarged lymph node and because it wasn’t painful, he didn’t think too much of it though his girlfriend, Natasha, was concerned….

Nutrition and Cancer More than everyday nutrition

April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

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We learn the factual reasons behind why you need more than everyday nutrition when facing a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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

This is why day-to-day management of your emotional and physical well-being is of utmost importance.2 Focusing on nutritional support will help your body during treatment.3 When you have cancer, your body’s requirements for nutrients increase, which highlights the importance of including a variety of foods from all food groups daily to assist you to get all…