World cancer day talk shares risk reduction tips

Cancer South Africa (Cansa) representatives held a talk for staff at Mooihawens on Thursday, 4 February in support of World Cancer Day.

This year’s cancer day theme is “We can, I can” and Cansa has pledged its full support in the fight against this dreaded disease. The aim of the campaign is to encourage everyone to help reduce their own cancer risk and to make fighting cancer a priority at the highest political levels.

Companies can get involved by creating a healthy working environment and by encouraging their employees to reduce their risk by making healthy lifestyle choices. These include eating plenty of vegetables and fruit in season, limiting daily fat intake, especially saturated fats which are found in butter, sausages, pies and full cream dairy products which increase blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attacks or strokes, avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight to height ratio, keeping physically active and avoid using tobacco products.

“Cansa also recommends having regular medical check-ups and cancer screenings to increase the chances of early discovery,” said Cansa ambassador for Amanzimtoti, Errol Theron. “Remember, getting cancer is not a death sentence and it can be successfully treated if detected early.”

To assist the local community, every three months the South Coast Cancer Association hosts a subsidised early detection screening programme in Amanzimtoti. Screening dates are published in the local press, while nine mobile health clinics provide early cancer detection programmes in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Support the Cancer Shavathon on 28 and 29 February, which will be held at four local major shopping centres.