Cancer survivor’s book aids patients
“My book shares my story best, when I underwent treatment I was told I would miss days at work due to the treatment but it was never the case,” said David in light of advising people to also consider not only scientific methods of healing but also natural methods."
Prostate cancer survivor David Pasipanodya has worked with Cansa by sharing his story and creating awareness about the disease.
Cansa, with its head office based in Bedfordview, is South Africa’s leading organisation in the fight against cancer.
David has dedicated his life to supporting the organisation. Today, he is an author of a book titled Winning Attitudes in the Face of Adversity, and Cansa receives 10% from the sale of the book.
David takes the reader on an emotional journey, from shock to despondency, anger, acceptance and finally positive attitudes when it comes to the disease.
“I am happy to share my story with the rest of the world because I know how important it is to share all the information available with the rest of the world. By doing so, I believe I am to help at least one life at a time,” said David.
When David was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, he was living in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, who was then studying.
“It started when I went to the doctor for my normal health check-ups. They did tests and when the results came back I was shocked when I was told I had cancer. It was not the result I was hoping for. My mind started playing tricks on me.
“The fear of dying slowing kicked in. The doctors said cancer runs in my family. It was true because I lost two of my brothers before from cancer,” David said.
He said it vital to note that prostate cancer tends to run in families.
“It is encouraged that men should get to know their family’s medical history, not delaying age-appropriate prostate screening, as many men die unnecessarily from the disease due to late diagnosis.”
David said prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men globally and the number one cancer affecting all South African men, according to National Cancer Registry 2017, with one in 17 men being at risk for diagnosis in their lifetime.
“International and local research indicates the risk for aggressive prostate cancer is higher in black African men,” said David.
The author said the mind plays an important role when one is diagnosed with cancer or any chronic disease because the mind controls how one would then react to the diagnosis.
“I started to lose a lot of weight and started to feel sick at some point.
“Then I remembered I was a life coach – there and then I realised I used to say to my students ‘It is not much about what happens to you, but it’s about how you react to what happens to you’. So my positive thinking had to kick in and I had to implement the advice I was giving to my students.
“I had to have positive mentality towards the treatment I was receiving. I had to believe it would work and I would heal.”
David received treatment for a period of 18 months in Sydney.
In 2011 he relocated to South Africa where he began the journey of sharing his story.
“My book shares my story of how I underwent treatment,” said David, who also advises people to consider not only scientific methods of healing but also natural methods.
He underwent radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) which is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
He said that he also went seeking advice on natural health practitioners to find natural methods best suited for him to heal and fight off the diseases.
Today, David remains vocal about cancer and urged men above 40 to do a medical check-up so they know their statuses.
He continues to check his health status every six months and continues to eat healthy.
“When I was diagnosed with cancer I was advised to stay away from certain types of food, till today I am still practising that. I have substituted beef and chicken from my diet with fruits, vegetables and beans for proteins,” said David.
Prostate cancer is detectable with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
PSA is a normal enzyme produced by the glandular tissue of the prostate. It is always present in the blood, however, a reading of three or higher may indicate inflammation of the prostate or even cancer.
Cansa launched its first Cansa Men supporting Men cancer support group on November 27.
For more information visit their website.
