Cancer survivor forms support group to create awareness and help others
ALEXANDRA – Cancer survivor wants to help others who suffer in silence.
A colon cancer survivor wants to use her second lease on life to help others suffering in silence from the pain of the disease.
Maki Makunyane-Moela from Alex is forming a cancer support group to create awareness to cancer sufferers and interested residents. All forms of cancer are treatable if attended to in time, said Moela.
She’s seen many people suffer from symptoms she said were similar to hers until her disease was diagnosed in 2005 and treated in 2007. She suffered from stomach pains, vomited regularly and had bouts of diarrhoea, experienced weight loss, a darkening of her skin and loss of appetite. She now attends monthly checks ups without fail.
Moela said many cancer-related deaths could be avoided by eradicating the association of the disease with witchcraft. This is said to prompt those affected to first see traditional healers and only seek clinical help when at a terminal stage. “Others abandon the chemotherapy treatment after being misinformed that it kills and also from their dislike of hair loss and other side effects from the treatment,” she said.
Moela also advised women to prevent cervical cancer by taking a regular pap smear. “Men who are above 40 years of age should take annual tests to prevent prostate cancer,” she said.
She also urged them not to discourage each other with false advice that the procedure is painful, which it isn’t, she said.
The group is open to anyone and will meet for an hour once a week at Thusanang Feeding Scheme on 5th Avenue. Medical and others practitioners will be drawn in to provide professional advice.
Details: Maki Moela 082 433 6948.
Read: Beating childhood cancer together
