A look into a rare cancer disease
Blood-related rare cancer campaign for patients in Flora.
The Campaign 4 Cancer (C4C) has undertaken another activation to educate and raise awareness about Waldenstrmö’s macroglobulinemia (WM), a type of cancer.
WM is a rare type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which fights infections, and it affects about 3.8 million people worldwide each year.
C4C and the International Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) strive to educate, advocate and support the general public about this distinct kind of cancer.
According to Ntokozo Dludla, the patient navigator at Life Flora Hospital, they deal with all types of cancers and offer support to immune-compromised (weak) patients after chemotherapy. They counsel, transport them to their homes after chemotherapy, and support them when it comes to their medication and mental state.
“People in South Africa are not aware of WM, and there’s no treatment for it, but it is manageable. This is why we are here today – to advocate for them so that they can receive a voice even internationally because they do have treatment for it,” she said.
C4C is based at The Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, but they visit hospitals, clinics, and oncology centres around the province.
“We only have 12 people in our group that are living with WM, but we are hoping that more people can come forward so that they can support each other when it comes to new developments and research around this type of cancer,” she added.
Some of the symptoms and risk factors for WM include constitutional symptoms, lymphadenopathy, and peripherical neuropathy among others.
Even though WM has a smaller portion of patients diagnosed with it, and living with it, these two organisations nevertheless hold dear its existence.
These organisations are mindful of the patient’s well-being as well as those caring for them, and such activations are often conducted to reach other relevant stakeholders, such as donors, considering the minimal funding for the disease.
For more info, you can contact Lebogang Sambo at 072 495 8960.
