Facing a New Year Together

My wish for you going into 2026 is:

The wish of good health – for you and your loved ones…
The wish of closeness with all those who mean the most to you…
The wish of serenity in dealing with the challenges which life throws at you…
The wish of personal peace of mind and heart, with the finding of joy in every day…

My wish for you wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t bring with it my warmest thanks for how you’ve helped support cancer patients and their families previously.

I hope you know how much it has meant to them, knowing that they’re not alone, and that you care.

Please see just a few highlights I am sharing to show you how you have made a difference that counts for good through your support:

Pain-free Treatment for our Dancing Queen

Cliché isn’t only a little cancer warrior; with her love of dancing, she’s also our TLC ward dancing queen.

If you sent a Christmas donation towards providing a Broviac for children undergoing cancer treatment, you may have quickly forgotten about it in the busyness of your own festive season.

But now, at the beginning of a new year, your ‘no more needles’ gift of kindness is very much at work – and a big reason to say a heartfelt ‘thank you’.

Four-year-old Cliché from Citrusdal, who is fighting leukemia, is a child who is benefiting from your generosity right now.

When the good news came that Cliché qualifies for a bone marrow transplant, with her mom as a 50% match, there was such happiness.

And thanks to caring friends like you, we could fit her with a Broviac catheter soft line for direct intravenous access.

For a four-year-old who has words in her vocabulary like chemotherapy, flushing line, counts and blood cells, Cliché was quick to express her gratitude in a few simple words: “Thank you for no more needles”.

Your gift will also carry Cliché through her bone marrow stem cell infusion which is set for this month.

The ‘thank you’, and the joy, is yours to share.

A Special Gift for Samantha

Samantha was well on her way to recovery from cancer, with her mom bringing her in for each treatment cycle.

Then the unthinkable happened – Sam’s mom died. She and her sibling were placed in care. Everything changed.

Eventually, Sam came back to the ward and the cycle continued: chemo today, sleeping off the nausea tomorrow; but she didn’t go home so often.

Suddenly one day, the ward was almost empty. Most of the young patients had gone home for Christmas.

For Sam, Christmas could have passed unnoticed. Except that the caring friends of CANSA stepped up with gift packs for those children left behind.

Sam had toys to play with; a colouring book and crayons; and party packs and snacks to enjoy.

A big thank you to our friends who didn’t let Christmas pass by unnoticed for a vulnerable child, like Sam.

Reaching Sweet 16

Birthday milestones may be taken for granted, especially with regards to children and teens. However, cancer is not mindful of this…

Now sweet 16, Amy Britz from Eerste River was 12 years old when a swelling below her knee revealed osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

Chemotherapy and surgery at Tygerberg Hospital were difficult. Amy missed school and her friends, leading to times of depression. BUT, when she saw the worry on the faces of her family, she decided that she wanted to live.

On 4 June last year, when the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness honoured cancer survivors, Amy was one of them.

Amy is quick to credit everyone who supported her through her cancer journey, starting with her mom, family and friends, her school and school friends, as well as her healthcare workers.

Amy also acknowledges the support of CANSA – and here, we acknowledge the power of your compassionate donations which fund our services.

Saving Lives

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in South Africa, with a one in 16 chance of being diagnosed.

With CANSA’s screening services readily available, getting tested is the clear, sensible choice.

Navie Reddy tells how the death of a close relative motivated her husband, Viniyadian, to start helping at CANSA in Umbilo, Durban.

He then went on to open the Woodview Cancer Support Group (WCSG) in his home neighbourhood of Phoenix. Along with many other support services, WCSG runs Wellness Day free cancer screenings.

On a particular Wellness Day, Viniyadian took the screening himself which led to a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Viniyadian underwent intensive radiation treatment and two years of injections to reach remission.

Now he has a check-up every six months.

Your support makes our education campaigns possible and our screening affordable.

Through our partner, Hollard, we’ve been blessed with the funding to fight prostate cancer with screening drives, education, emotional and logistic support for cancer patients and their families, and navigation through testing and referral systems – particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Putting Cancer Treatment within Reach

Cancer patients living far from treatment centres find it impossible to travel back and forth for treatment sessions due to transport expenses. Accommodation expenses also put treatment out of their reach. Thanks to your support cancer patients can be accommodated at our CANSA Care Homes and able to receive treatment.

Patient - “When I arrived, I was very anxious and chemotherapy was hard. But the Care Home was like my home giving me everything I needed. Thank you, today I’m a cancer Survivor.”

Patient - “Thank you for opening your doors and your hearts to me, making me feel cared for, supported and surrounded by kindness. You created a space of hope and dignity for someone like me who might otherwise have nowhere to go.”

Patient - “I immediately felt at home. And I soon became part of one big family, sharing the positive atmosphere, the food, the transport and the support.”

Free Services

Your donations make the following free services possible:

CANSA Tele and Virtual counselling in most SA languages by trained counsellors, support groups (face-to-face; WhatsApp and FBK); guidance from our Clinical Nurses regarding coping with the side effects of cancer, cancer treatment, dietary tips, stoma care and pain management – enquire at info@cansa.org.za; our Advocacy department assists patients experiencing stock shortages, delays in screening and cancer treatment, and lack of access to appropriate pain management medications; transport to and from cancer treatment centres is provided to our cancer patients staying at CANSA Care Homes, who would otherwise live too far away to receive treatment. Children and teens with cancer and their parents / guardians stay at our CANSA TLC Lodges for free during treatment. Our two TLC wig banks for children / teens provide free wigs to those in need.

I trust you have caught a glimpse of the immense value of your support. Thank you, it is sincerely appreciated, and it is wonderful to know that we go into this new year facing the fight against cancer together!

Warm regards,

Elize Joubert
Chief Executive Officer

Did You Know?
Your donations enable free services, for example, CANSA Tele and Virtual counselling in most SA languages by trained counsellors, support groups (face-to-face; WhatsApp and FBK); guidance from our Clinical Nurses regarding coping with the side effects of cancer, cancer treatment, dietary tips, stoma care and pain management – enquire at info@cansa.org.za; our Advocacy department assists patients experiencing stock shortages, delays in screening and cancer treatment, and lack of access to appropriate pain management medications; transport to and from cancer treatment centres is provided to our cancer patients staying at CANSA Care Homes, who would otherwise live too far away to receive treatment. Children and teens with cancer and their parents / guardians stay at our CANSA TLC Lodges for free during treatment. Our two TLC wig banks for children / teens provide free wigs to those in need.