Celebrate International Cancer Survivors Month for local survivors
When a child or teenager is diagnosed with cancer, Cansa TLC offers support to sustain paediatric patients, parents and loved ones as they face their worst fear.
This month, as part of International Cancer Survivors Month, Cansa celebrates all cancer survivors and salutes their perseverance with a focus on children, teens, young adults and parents or guardians.
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Each cancer diagnosis can negatively affect a patient and their loved ones. Cansa provides the practical and emotional support they need throughout their cancer treatment.
Receiving a diagnosis as an adult is difficult, but even more so when it’s a child or teenager, and it is especially hard on the parents of paediatric patients, said the organisation.
When a child or teenager is diagnosed with cancer, Cansa TLC offers support to sustain paediatric patients, parents and loved ones as they face their worst fear.
Cansa’s national manager of Childhood Cancer Services, Anina Meiring, said, “Oncology parents and paediatric patients need moments to enjoy, relax and unwind with friends and family.
“The Cansa TLC staff strive to help our paediatric cancer patients celebrate life by experiencing moments of joy amid chemotherapy, transfusions, and transplants.
“We collaborate with play therapists, arrange sessions at treatment facilities, and arrange fun and dress-up days.
“We also celebrate birthdays and help make happy memories for our patients and their loved ones,” she said.
According to Meiring, the TLC support is also practical, and they collaborate with paediatric oncologists and oncology ward staff to cater to young patients’ needs as they arise.
Cansa TLC provides food parcels, toiletry packs, and accommodation for paediatric patients receiving treatment far from home and their parents through its TLC Nicus Lodge in Pretoria at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Family Lodge (Durban) and Paediatric Oncology Ward (Pietersburg Provincial Hospital) in Limpopo.
A TLC teenage support room at Tygerberg Hospital is also available.
Cansa also supports the paediatric oncology wards at Charlotte Maxeke, George Mukhari, Steve Biko, Polokwane, Kimberley Provincial, Port Elizabeth and Tygerberg hospitals.
The organisation provides ports and broviacs, allowing for less invasive treatment procedures, short-term lines, and emergency support by providing high-flow oxygen nasal cannula, needles or dressings as required.
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They also provide medication (if the medication prescribed by the paediatric oncologist is insufficient to manage extreme nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation), wheelchairs or strollers for patients who are blind due to cancer or had a leg amputated and prostheses (artificial eyes).
Cansa offers free tele-counselling and face-to-face support groups.
They also have a WhatsApp support group for teenage cancer patients or teens whose loved ones have cancer.
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A Facebook support group for parents and loved ones – TLC Childhood Cancer Support – is available.
To support Cansa TLC with financial or in-kind donations, contact info@cansa.org.za
