CANSA calls on women to take a stand against cancer
'Too many women still die of cancer because they aren’t encouraged to know their own bodies' – CANSA.
August marks Women’s Month, and with National Women’s Day celebrated today (August 9) women’s active role in SA history to protect human rights are remembered. It also is an opportunity to draw attention to significant issues women still face.
The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) acknowledges the collective power of women to achieve positive change, and calls on women to unite around the importance of cancer screening for them, and help prevent unnecessary loss of life.
CANSA encourages women to arrange for cancer screening at their local CANSA Care Centre, and to purchase a screening voucher for a loved one, friend or employee.
CANSA’s Head of Service, Gerda Strauss believes that women can influence other women positively with regard to cancer screening.
“Too many women still die of cancer because they aren’t encouraged to know their own bodies. Be aware of the symptoms of cancer, take advantage of cancer screening, or understand how to lower one’s personal cancer risk. Covid-19 has also caused women who are aware of the importance of cancer screening to put it off, to avoid busy healthcare facilities. However, cancer remains a reality and early detection through screening can save lives. Is there a woman in your life who doesn’t know about the importance of screening, or can’t afford it? Buy her a screening voucher and share your knowledge.”
Head of the Clinical Unit, Radiation Oncology at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town, Dr Zainab Mohamed commented on the impact the pandemic has had on cancer screening and diagnosis.
“Covid-19 affects cancer services in many ways. It affects cancer screening. People can’t go for routine screening because hospitals are full, or these screenings have been postponed so that there are not too many people and to maintain social distancing. It’s affected diagnoses. A lot of patients have not been able to go to their GPs or primary healthcare facilities or access secondary level services, because there is no space. We’ve been overrun by Covid-19.”
Strauss explained how CANSA is able to help. “It’s not necessary to delay cancer screening. CANSA offers screening through its CANSA Care Centres by appointment to avoid crowding, and with strict safety protocols in place to avoid the spread of Covid-19. An affordable small fee is charged to assist with the cost of the equipment needed to conduct the screening. Medical aid patients can submit a claim to their medical aid once they have paid for the screening.”
Screenings available to women include Clinical Breast Examinations (to detect breast lumps); Pap smears (liquid-based cervical cancer screening test for early diagnosis); FotoFinder examinations (mole-mapping dermoscope device to examine moles and spots on skin) and a faecal occult home-testing kit (to help indicate a growth / inflammation / bleeding in digestive system, possibly indicating colorectal cancer). Women are encouraged to buy a screening voucher for a loved one, friend or employee who perhaps can’t afford it, or to urge them to take advantage of screening available.
According to statistics from the National Cancer Registry (NCR) 2017, the top five cancers affecting women in SA are breast, cervical, colorectal, uterine and lung cancer. Both breast and cervical cancer have been identified as a national priority with increasing incidences. Apart from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all races, with a lifetime risk of one in 25 in South Africa, according to the 2017 National Cancer Registry (NCR). Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among South African women, but the cancer that women die of most. Women have a one in 40 lifetime risk of cervical cancer (NCR 2017).
What women can do:
• Know your body – Be aware of any changes to your body and do regular self-examinations: report changes in breasts and the skin to a medical health practitioner.
• Know the signs of cancer – Read more about the symptoms of cancers affecting women in SA on the CANSA website.
• Regular cancer screening – Make an appointment at your local CANSA Care Centre for cancer screening on an annual basis, or if you are concerned about a symptom you are experiencing.
• Share your knowledge – Empower other women by sharing the knowledge you have gained about cancer, screening and lowering cancer risk. Buy another woman a cancer-screening voucher.
• Public healthcare screening – Women are entitled to an annual clinical breast examination when visiting primary healthcare centres in terms of the National Department of Health’s Breast Cancer Control Policy; and in terms of the National Department of Health’s Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Policy, women aged 30 and older are entitled to three Pap smears in their lifetime at 30, 40 and 50 at public healthcare clinics at no cost (non-symptomatic). If women experience abnormal symptoms, they can request a Pap smear at local government clinics. HIV positive women are eligible for a Pap smear at diagnosis and every three years thereafter if negative for cervical cancer (yearly if screening is positive).
