Campaigning for Cancer, an advocacy group which aims to raise awareness about cancer, launched a campaign in Bryanston to bring light to a lesser-known cancer.
The campaign will focus on cases of head and neck cancers as it is not as well-known as other cancer types such as breast and prostate cancer. Annually World Head and Neck Cancer Day is commemorated on 27 July.
The CEO of Campaigning for Cancer, Lauren Pretorius, said, “For a lot of cancers there isn’t a lot of representation policy-wise and education-wise… If you get the right treatment at the right time there is hope.”
Dr Jan Pinchevsky, the oncology medical manager at Merck Sharpe and Dohme, explained that head and neck cancers are cancers that affect the sinuses, throat, voice box and oral cavity which includes the tongue and lips. Pinchevsky highlighted that this type of cancer is found predominantly in men and has high mortality rates.
Many of the symptoms attributed to head and neck cancer might be confused with a cold but last for an extended period. Pinchevsky said that about 70 per cent of patients have an advanced stage of cancer because they did not seek medical help earlier.
“Patients often leave it very late and that’s the problem with any of these cancers, the sooner you can treat it the better.”
Two head and neck cancer survivors shared their stories and highlighted how important it is to have education surrounding these types of cancers.
Lydia Ramphoma, was diagnosed with nasopharynx cancer at the age of 17. During a school biology lesson, she learned about various symptoms to look out for and queried a lump she had developed on the side of her neck. Thanks to seven months of treatment, Ramphoma has been cancer-free for over 20 years.
David Mfeka, who has now been cancer-free for 10 years, was misdiagnosed multiple times over three months before he came across a pamphlet highlighting the dangers of tobacco and the symptoms associated with cancer. He sought help at his local doctor and was referred to a specialist who diagnosed him with throat cancer.
Mfeka was only able to obtain treatment 10 months after his diagnosis and said that there is still a stigma attached to the disease. “There are so many beliefs that cancer only belongs to certain people. I have learned that this disease belongs to no one, it does not discriminate whether you’re old or small, rich or poor.”
Details: Campaigning for Cancer info@campaign4cancer.co.za
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