World Cancer Day – we can all fight cancer
The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is strengthening its role as advocate on World Cancer Day https://www.worldcancerday.org/– highlighted each year on February 4.
Issued by the Cancer Association of South Africa
The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is strengthening its role as advocate on World Cancer Day https://www.worldcancerday.org/– highlighted each year on February 4. Supporting the campaign theme of, ‘We can. I can.’ CANSA pledges its support in the fight against this dreaded disease. This campaign encourages actions that all can take to help reduce the cancer risk, achieve greater equity in cancer care and make fighting cancer a priority at the highest political levels.
“World Cancer Day is the singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. We challenge corporates, organisations, families, friends and individuals to take on this challenge and to pledge their support in striving for a cancer-free South Africa,” says CANSA CEO, Elize Joubert.
Companies can get involved by creating healthy work environments and engaging employees in workplace initiatives that support and encourage them to make healthy lifestyle choices.Some of these choices include eating plenty of vegetables and fruit in season, limiting fat intake, avoiding or limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight by being active and not using tobacco products.
CANSA recommends regular medical check-ups and cancer screenings to increase chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. CANSA Care Centre teams offer early detection screening programmes to help reduce the cancer risk, while nine Mobile Health Clinics provide screening and early detection programmes in remote areas.
Joubert adds, “Everyone can also get involved in other ways, such as the #NoHairSelfie campaign https://www.nohairselfie.com/za and or the ‘Talking Hands’ project.
#NoHairSelfie:
CANSA is excited to be a part of this global movement, that encourages the public to raise funds and show support to cancer survivors by virtually (using the #NoHairSelfie app) or actually (at a CANSA Care Centre) shaving their hair. Find out more at https://www.nohairselfie.com/za or visit your nearest CANSA Care Centre https://www.cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details.
Talking Hands:
Join in on World Cancer Day’s ‘Talking Hands’ campaign on social media. It’s very simple –write supportive and inspirational messages on your hand(s) – using the ‘We can. I can.’ theme – and post a picture, or a video of it on social media using the hashtags #WorldCancerDay and #WeCanICan.
Are you a cancer survivor? Contact the Vryheid Herald on 034 981 3930 to tell your story of hope and courage in the next edition as we commemorate World Cancer Day as a community.
