Showing care with locals for Cansa Care Month
CANSA, a non-profit organisation, remains dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and promoting research for cancer.
The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) celebrates Cansa Care Month in August to highlight its service offerings.
Cansa provides practical and psychosocial care and support to help manage the physical and emotional impact cancer has on cancer survivors (patients and those in remission), their loved ones and caregivers.
Gerda Strauss, the head of services at Cansa, said they are dedicated to supporting those affected by cancer in their communities.
“We want to ensure they don’t have to face this alone and are given the knowledge and resources to cope while living with cancer.
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“We’re thrilled to announce our wonderful new initiative, Cansa Information and Support Desks, at public hospitals.
“Run by staff and trained volunteers, we provide information to patients and help them with referrals to support groups, tele and clinical counselling and other services,” said Strauss.
Cansa has information and support desks at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital (Johannesburg), Inkosi Albert Luthuli Academic Hospital in Durban and Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
Cansa has received approval to have more at Klerksdorp Hospital and Universitas Hospital (Free State). They hope to expand this service to other parts of the country soon.
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Cansa has also developed a series of ‘Coping with Cancer’ posters, sponsored by Pfizer, which will soon be distributed at the Cansa Information and Support Desks, public hospital oncology wards, public clinics and Cansa Care Centres across South Africa.
They will be available in English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, isiXhosa and isiZulu.
The posters will provide information about managing the side effects of treatment, adjusting to life after treatment, common emotions experienced by cancer patients, pain management, the impact of cancer treatment on intimacy and how to protect the immune system.
Dr Duvern Ramiah, Clinical and Academic Head of Department: Radiation Oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, said, “Cansa provides an amazing service to the radiation oncology patients at Charlotte Maxeke.
“Their information and support desk at the unit provides our patients with practical material and psychological support to manage the physical and mental toll which cancer and the treatment takes.”
Some Cansa Care Centres provide services such as medical equipment hire, breast prostheses and bras, lymphoedema garments, wigs and headwear, and incontinence support.
The national Cansa help desk provides online support via the toll-free line 0800 22 66 22, email:
info@cansa.org.za and multi-lingual WhatsApp lines: 072 197 9305 for English and Afrikaans and 071 867 3530 for isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana.
