Cancer survivor knows the horrors of state treatment
Using an example, Sherika explains how one patient she met in January one year was given an appointment at a provincial hospital in April that year.
State cancer patients are said to be paying the price for inefficient healthcare.
As a cancer survivor and former CANSA staff member, Sherika Ramsaroop has unique insight into how breast cancer patients are affected by the provincial oncology crisis and the shortcomings of state health services. She has seen firsthand how devastating this situation is.
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“Between detection and treatment is sometimes months to wait. I had patients who died between getting to the end.”
Using an example, Sherika explains how one patient she met in January one year was given an appointment at a provincial hospital in April that year.
The patient never survived to her appointment date.
“I worked for CANSA for two-and-a-half years and the difference between those who survive and those who don’t is access to methods of detection.”
Stating the current situation is a two-fold crisis, Sherika says provincial patients often consult multiple doctors, and have numerous appointments, before cancer was even tested for.
This could influence what stage the cancer developed to. She emphasised how critical it was for breast cancer patients to have access to early detection measures and immediate treatment, but many were denied this by relying on government healthcare.
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Often the choice was between treatment and rent or food. With as many as one in 27 women in South Africa diagnosed with breast cancer, according to online sources, Sherika considers herself fortunate to have had access to medical aid.
“I had mild symptoms which weren’t too concerning, so I went for a routine mammogram. The doctors found calcification and advised me to go for a [breast] ultrasound.”
Within a week, Sherika underwent a biopsy and then met with a surgical team from Durban, followed by a double mastectomy in March. These procedures were covered by her medical scheme.
“What a different journey it would have been if I was a provincial patient.”
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