Decades of research and medical ingenuity have improved and extended the lives of many cancer patients, but despite these advances, the number of cancer cases continues to grow and experts estimate that the caseload could double by 2030.
“Not Beyond Us” is the theme of this year’s World Cancer Day, marked annually on 4 February.
This message reinvigorates the human fighting spirit and reminds us that through group effort and solidarity, we can restore hope and overcome the rising tide of cancer.
Many cancer awareness messages seem to have had minimal impact, and despite countless campaigns promoting healthy living and regular screening, the number of cancer diagnosis have been climbing steadily over the years.
“Health lifestyle choices, access to early detection, availability of treatments – including radiotherapy and chemotherapy – and robust advocacy are the essential ingredients needed to tackle our population’s growing cancer problems,” said Prof Vikash Sewram, director of the African Cancer Institute (ACI) at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).
He believes that a consolidated effort should be guided by a robust plan and driven by commitment.
“The battle will only be won if we all take responsibility for the problem. Scientists and clinicians cannot be solely responsible for finding a solution.
Working partnerships between clinicians, scientists, the public and private sector, advocacy groups, the media and government is required to bring about real change in the fight against cancer,” Sewram maintains.
In addition to the personal cost to patients and their families, the disease also negatively impacts on the economy as it often affects the country’s workforce.
“To ensure a robust economy, investment in ways to minimise the burden of cancer is paramount,” says Sewram.
To improve the outcome of cancer patients in South Africa, the country’s healthcare bodies need to obtain a better understanding of the barriers to cancer prevention and care, and make affordable treatment available to all.
More should also be done to reduce the suffering of those with end-stage disease, and greater patient-family interaction is required to improve the quality of life of patients.
Sewram believes that research-oriented patient care is of paramount importance.
“Life-saving research findings will reach patients and other stakeholders quicker in an environment lucrative for innovation that is supported by good infrastructure and coupled with high-impact teams undertaking interdisciplinary research,” says Sewram.
“Surveillance is often neglected and yet it forms an integral component of cancer prevention and control activities.
Greater investment from stakeholders is necessary to inform the placement of resources and guide intervention activities.”
