Cancer survivor shares his story at awareness event
The initiative’s aim was to raise awareness of the disease and open a platform for men to ask questions and discuss their concerns.
Residents of Sharon Park hosted a prostate cancer awareness seminar on Saturday. The aim was to raise awareness around the disease and open a platform for men to ask questions and discuss their concerns.
Mandla Zondo, a survivor of prostate cancer and a cancer activist, was the guest speaker.
“I have been in remission for over eight years, so these seminars are close to my heart. I come with the unfortunate honour of speaking from experience,” he said.
Zondo detailed his approach when he did presentations.
“I sit down with the men and show and tell them what a prostate is and what causes cancer. I take them step by step into the journey hoping that this information will save lives.”
He encourages men to test regularly and lead healthier lifestyles.
“Men should go for screenings at least once a year, especially if they are over 40. They should also keep fit by exercising daily and eating healthily. It is why I have been able to beat this cancer,” he added.
Sibongile Msibi, the wife of Joel Msibi, says she reached out to the community to start the initiative as the wife of a cancer victim.
“I started this initiative because my husband is a victim of prostate cancer. I remember feeling so confused because we had no support structure. We were angry at this illness as a family and had no one to share these frustrations with,” she explained.
The seminar started with a presentation. Then a question-and-answer session was held.
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The programme was followed by the pinning of blue ribbons representing prostate cancer, and those in attendance received a light lunch.
Lawrence Mohlala, a resident and a member of Obaba/Bo Ntate, says the information they received was important because it reminded attendees of many of the points they had forgotten.
“The Obaba/Bo Ntate owe a debt of gratitude to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa for sending Mandla Zondo to come and share with us the awareness of the dreadful disease,” he said.
Zondo hosts a prostate cancer talk every third Saturday of the month and has a support group for all cancers every second Tuesday at Back to God Church in Kwa-Thema.
