Category Archives: Cancer

• Sunburn can occur within fifteen minutes, and the damage caused is permanent, irreversible and adds up with each exposure to the sun.
• Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and SA has one of the highest monitored ultraviolet (UV) levels in the world, resulting in one of the highest skin cancer rates globally.
• UV radiation is just as dangerous for outdoor labourers, sports people, on the playground or when driving to work, as it is when at the beach or pool. Rays can also reflect off surfaces and cause sunburn when it is overcast.
• It’s getting hotter, so be SunSmarter!

• https://cansa.org.za/be-sunsmart/

  

Sun Smart Skin Cancer Awareness 

• South Africans at Higher Risk of Skin Cancer  – “South Africa could become the skin cancer capital of the world,”
• https://cansa.org.za/south-africans-at-higher-risk-of-skin-cancer

 

• “I Started to Live My Life on Purpose” – CANSA Ambassador and melanoma survivor, Naniki Seboni joined Karger’s The Waiting Room Podcast, to speak about about her experiences of being diagnosed with stage 3 malignant melanoma at the age of 25.
• https://cansa.org.za/i-started-to-live-my-life-on-purpose-an-interview-with-naniki-seboni

1. Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and International Gynaecological Health Awareness Day (10 September)

What is cervical cancer?

• Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women and can be life-threatening if not treated or diagnosed.
• This type of cancer develops in the cells of the cervix — this is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

2. What causes this cancer?

It is thought that various types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) – an infection transmitted through sexual activity – can cause this type of cancer. It is important to note, however, that not everybody with HPV will get cervical cancer. In fact, it is only a small percentage of people who get HPV that get cervical cancer.

Our immune systems will fight HPV if exposed to it to stop it from causing harm. In a small percentage of people, however, the virus ends up surviving for years and playing a role in causing some cervical cells to become cancer cells.

https://www.ilivewell.co.za/category/september-2020/cervical-cancer-awareness-month-and-international-gynaecological-health-awareness-day/

 3. Signs of cervical cancer

One of the biggest risks of cervical cancer is that in the early stages, it most often produces no signs or symptoms.

That is why regular checkups are so important.

https://www.ilivewell.co.za/2021/09/01/signs-of-cervical-cancer/

  1. Types of Childhood Cancer

Public awareness of the warning signs of childhood cancer is vital.

Currently, between 800 to 1 000 SA children are diagnosed with cancer annually. However, it’s estimated that half of the children with cancer in South Africa, are never diagnosed.

A new registry to record statistics of childhood cancer was launched in 2022.

https://cansa.org.za/types-of-childhood-cancer/

2. Types of Childhood Cancer

According to the recent South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG) registry statistics, for 2009 to 2013, the five foremost childhood cancers in South Africa are:

• leukaemia
• lymphoma (tumours that begin in the lymph glands)
• brain tumours
• nephroblastomas or Wilms tumours – cancer of the kidneys
• soft tissue sarcomas (tumours that begin in the connective tissue)

3. Resources to Help with Cancer Diagnosis (Children)

CANSA partnered with Hollard to design, illustrate and produce the books in an online format that is available for free on the CANSA website.

The information provided addresses the most frequently asked questions by children and their parents/guardians. The stories are sure to encourage children and parents/guardians in their fight against cancer.

https://cansa.org.za/resources-to-help-with-cancer-diagnosis-children/

2 June – National Cancer Survivors’ Day

https://ncsd.org/

National Cancer Survivors Day^® is a CELEBRATION for those who have survived,

an INSPIRATION for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of SUPPORT for families,

and an OUTREACH to the community.

https://ncsd.org/cancer-survivorship-issues/

Over the past three decades, we’ve seen great progress being made in extending cancer survival. The risk of dying from cancer has steadily declined, and people with cancer are living many years beyond their initial diagnosis.