Cancer survivors, leading experts and supporters gathered at Sandton Oncology to share their experiences and help spread early detection awareness.
October is breast cancer awareness month and events such as this help to spread the early detection message. The world-class cancer oncology unit based at the Rivonia Medical Centre prides themselves in delivering complex radiotherapy treatments to the head and body with shorter treatment times, sparing more healthy tissue and thus decreasing the side effects of treatment.
The ultimate message of the day was that better education is needed in society.
Cancer survivor, Gabi Harrist spoke about a message a medical staff member shared with her: “Gabi, remember this is your cancer, not anyone else’s,” suggesting the need for friends and family to understand how incredibly personal and sometimes lonely breast cancer and its treatment can be.
South Africa’s first black, female oncologist, Dr Keo Tabane led the talk by emphasising how important it is to trust and know your body. “We need to be comfortable with our own bodies…you know your body best, better than the doctors…trust that gut feeling,” said Dr Tabane.
She added that the reality is that everyone is at risk of getting breast cancer. She dispelled a few common myths such as larger breasts are not at a higher risk of developing cancer but breasts with heavier density, do show an increase. Cancer cells grow faster in body fat and it is important to lose body fat but not body mass.
Some studies have suggested an increase in cancer patients in the black middle class. Apparently, this could be due to their intake of more processed foods.
Dr Tabane elaborated, “There is better awareness in rural areas and in society at a large, so breast cancer is being detected more often. It is not that there is an increase due to the growing middle class but that there is greater awareness.”
Breast cancer survivors spoke about their heroic journeys, the ups and downs. Teresa Wilson said, “The team [doctors, nurses] involved in delivering the difficult news, need to be valued for the impact they have on our journeys.”
She added that one can garner strength from seeing others who have survived.
Details: Sandton Oncology www.sandtononcology.co.za
