Dignity and Hope for Survivors with CANSA

June is recognised globally as International Cancer Survivors’ Month which provides the opportunity to recognise cancer Survivors living in SA, and to highlight the often overlooked emotional, physical, financial, and practical realities that can continue long after diagnosis and treatment.

A ‘cancer Survivor’ is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, undergoing cancer treatment or in remission. CANSA enables Survivors to live with dignity and hope through every stage of their cancer experience, continuing to provide practical help and emotional support to cancer patients, their caregivers and loved ones in the organisation’s 95^th year.*

People often assume that once treatment ends, life simply goes back to normal. For many Survivors, this is not the case, the completion of active treatment not signalling the end of the impact of cancer on their lives..

Supporting Survivors Beyond Treatment

Survivors need information, connection and support, not only at diagnosis, or during treatment, but also as they rebuild their lives afterwards.

Experiencing cancer can affect a Survivor’s confidence, identity, family life, work, finances, and emotional wellbeing.

CANSA calls on family, loved ones, caregivers, employers and colleagues to be mindful that after treatment Survivors may continue to live with fatigue, anxiety, fear of recurrence, body image changes, relationship strain, financial pressure, workplace challenges, long-term side effects of cancer or treatment, and the emotional impact of having faced a life-threatening illness…

Bring Hope and Inspire – a Call to Action

CANSA is inviting Survivors, caregivers and loved ones to download the organisation’s ‘Bring Hope | Inspire’ poster, adding a personal message, and sharing it on social media, tagging CANSA. The campaign focus is on sharing words of hope and inspiration with others living with cancer whether recently diagnosed, in treatment, recovering, or adjusting to life after cancer.

Every message shared has the power to encourage someone…

Survivors can also share their story of Hope on the CANSA website.

How CANSA Helps

CANSA provides free emotional support that can make a meaningful difference to Survivors and families navigating life throughout the cancer experience.

This includes telephonic and virtual counselling (available in most SA languages), face-to-face and virtual support groups.

Practical support includes: Information and Support desks at public hospitals; free clinical counselling by CANSA nurses, to help patients deal with the side effects of cancer, cancer treatment, stoma or pain management – contact info@cansa.org.za for this service; stoma products and support, natural hair and synthetic wigs, breast prostheses, medical equipment hire, home-based care guidance, educational resources, affordable cancer screening and advocacy support for people experiencing barriers to care or delays in accessing treatment; and seven Care Homes providing accommodation to cancer patients who live far from treatment centres.

For 95 years, CANSA has supported South Africans affected by cancer through research, education, advocacy, screening, care and support.

Today, the organisation’s work extends across the full cancer experience: from risk reduction and early detection to diagnosis, treatment support, survivorship, recurrence support, palliative care and support for caregivers and loved ones.

*Disclaimer: The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. CANSA is not informed of any diagnoses / of patients being treated at medical centres. Family need to obtain permission from patients, before CANSA may contact them.

Cast Your Vote – Cancer Words Survey

CANSA knows that language used to describe cancer patients and their cancer experience may affect them positively or negatively and invites your opinion on the matter.

Which words, phrases or terms describing cancer patients or their cancer experience are MOST annoying? 

Help us identify the most annoying words and then submit suggestions on what to use instead.

Bring Hope and inspire!

If you found  this informative, please consider inviting a contact to subscribe to receive regular updates regarding CANSA’s services, advocacy, and health campaigns. Or forward this email to a friend.

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.