February is the month of love. Valentine’s Day is celebrated and gifts are given to loved ones to demonstrate affection.
This Valentine’s Day the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) invites all to give the gift of health to loved ones, by purchasing a cancer screening voucher as a token of affection, as early detection is key in the fight against cancer and can saves lives.
Gerda Strauss, CANSA’s Head of Service explained, “We challenge you to show you care in a different way. Chocolates, biltong or flowers may be wonderful gifts to receive, but being able to help protect a loved one through the gift of cancer screening says so much more. CANSA is celebrating 90 years of helping to detect cancer early, through screening this year, and we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to be screened also. Costs for screening are kept to a minimum and only cover materials necessary to conduct the screening.
“While it is understandable that people are delaying screening due to fears of being infected with Covid-19, cancer risk does not go away, and it is important to detect cancer early to improve treatment outcomes, so don’t delay any longer.”
Vouchers may be redeemed per appointment at CANSA Care Centres and strict Covid-19 safety measures are in place.
Screening vouchers are available for the following*:
• Blood pressure test (R25)
• Blood glucose test (R35)
• Pap smear – to detect cervical cancer (R380)
• Clinical breast examination (R90)
• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test – to detect prostate cancer (R180)
• Clinical mole analysis – to detect skin cancer (R110)
• FotoFinder mole analysis – to detect skin cancer (R135)
• Faecal occult at home test kit – to detect colorectal cancer (R75)
• Healthy Lifestyle Risk Assessment – cancer risk profile (no charge).
“Screening vouchers may be purchased online and are valid until 1 May 2021, or a voucher can be bought at a CANSA Care Centre. Please indicate your preferred CANSA Care Centre when purchasing your voucher and note that vouchers may be redeemed by appointment only due to Covid-19 regulations. When redeeming a voucher please wear a mask, keep hands sanitized and maintain social distancing where possible,“ Strauss concluded.
*Certain screening equipment is shared and roams between CANSA Care Centres as is required. For this reason it is important to book an appointment for a screening and to enquire whether a particular Care Centre offers a particular type of screening.
For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email lbalona@cansa.org.za. Call 011 616 7662 or mobile 082 459 5230.
