CANSA increases screening days to expand community reach
Screening days and core services are the glue that keeps the organisation together
It may not matter how fast the river flows, the wider the net the more fish one can expect to catch.
Starting immediately, Cancer Association of South Africa’s West Rand office will open their doors for an extra two screening days a month. While previously only available on two Wednesdays a month, every Wednesday will now be a screening day. Members of the public are invited to call the centre to book their appointment for any one of the wide range of services provided.
Early detection and being conscious of one’s body is key, and CANSA can help to identify several forms of cancer, including prostate, breast and skin cancer. The centre offers the expert care of registered nurses with some sophisticated gadgets, one being the FotoFinder, which is a specialist machine made by German biomedical engineers and is used to identify skin ailments.
Home-based care is among the most important services offered by CANSA. The journey through home-based care starts with a simple phone call to book an appointment. Here, an evaluation of the patient’s needs are conducted and a comprehensive plan is laid out, encompassing emotional and moral support, dietary support, pain control and guided training for affected family members.
Medical equipment and cosmetic features such as wigs or prostheses help maintain one’s self-esteem throughout the process, and all these services and more are available through CANSA. They are also attuned to the effects of the state-imposed lockdowns, which have caused incredible stress and anxiety. CANSA will thus be offering the services of seasoned counsellor, Lorraine Voges, to those not affected by cancer but who still need some form of emotional and moral assistance.
The centre’s reach is not confined by the boundaries of their premises as they regularly host remote screening days wherever they are required. Corporates can play their part in fighting cancer by arranging screening days for their employees. A non-invasive prick test is simple and convenient, ensuring no productivity would be lost. To book or enquire about any of the above services, contact Isabel Gomes at igomes@cansa.org.za or on 011 768 4342.
Services available at CANSA West Rand include:
• Pap smear and clinical breast examination: R380
• Prostate Specific Antigen blood test: R180
• Prostate Specific Antigen finger prick: R55
• Clinical breast examination: R90
• FotoFinder skin test: R135
• Blood pressure test: R25
