Netcare Olivedale Hospital holds Cancer Awareness Day
The day educated the community on the importance of early cancer screenings, offering guidance from medical professionals and inspiring survivor stories.
Netcare Olivedale Hospital recently held a Cancer Awareness Day to bring vital information about cancer to the community, with the goal of encouraging regular screenings and early detection.
“The main aim of Netcare Olivedale Hospital’s Cancer Awareness Day was to encourage visitors, patients, and staff to empower themselves with knowledge of the different types of cancer, potential risk factors, and the importance of regular cancer screenings,” said Eugene Ferreira, general manager of the hospital.
The day drew a positive response from the community, featuring talks by doctors, past patients, and other cancer care professionals. One of the highlights was a visit from therapy dogs from the TOP Dogs programme, which brought joy and comfort to attendees.
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Speakers provided key insights into early detection and cancer prevention throughout the event. Ferreira noted that attendees were advised to discuss personal risk factors with their doctors, understand cancer risks by age and gender, and stay informed about recommended screenings.
Women were encouraged to screen for cervical cancer annually and start mammograms for breast cancer from the age of 40. Men were advised to start prostate cancer screening at age 55 or earlier if there was a family history of the disease. “When cancer is detected at an earlier stage through regular screening, treatment outcomes are generally better,” Ferreira added.
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Prostate cancer survivor Jens Lind (80) shared his journey, highlighting the power of early detection and offering encouragement to others currently battling cancer.
Netcare Olivedale’s Cancer Care supports patients throughout their cancer journey with a full range of services, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. The hospital also has a dedicated haematology unit providing advanced treatments for blood cancers and other conditions. Services include hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy, and various immune therapies to treat leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphomas.
Ferreira emphasised that educating the public on cancer prevention remained a priority. “We would be glad to share the awareness information from our health days with the Randburg Sun in future to help empower the wider community with health information.”
Community members can stay updated on cancer screenings and health events by visiting Netcare Olivedale Hospital’s Facebook page or the Netcare website.
Through this event, Netcare Olivedale Hospital has shown its commitment to raising awareness about cancer and supporting the community with the tools to detect and fight cancer early.
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