CANSA Service Spotlight – Cisca Loggenberg (Service Coordinator)
A Day in the Life of a Service Coordinator
Cisca Loggenberg
Tell me about yourself…
I am Cisca Loggenberg an it is my passion to work with people, especially cancer patients.
What position are you in?
I am the Service Coordinator at the CANSA Care Centre in Pretoria.
How long have you been working for CANSA?
I have been working for CANSA for 5 years. My first year was as a volunteer and I am so happy to be part of the Service team for 4 years now.
What do you like most about your position?
Working with stoma patients and counselling.
What do you find the most difficult about your position?
I can’t really think of anything.
What inspires you?
To see the fighting spirit in cancer patients.
Take me through a typical work day in your life…
I meet with home-based care patients and assist with walk-in clients. I assist patients and loved ones with medical equipment hire, and help walk-in stoma patients at the Stoma Clinic.
I also assist patients telephonically and arrange nurses for upcoming Wellness events or Screening Clinic days.
Tell me about a time when an interaction with a patient or the public made an impression on you…
A family reached out to me and I saw the patient at home. The patient was in so much pain. I contacted the doctor for a prescription to help with pain management and soon thereafter the family contacted me to arrange another visit. The patient was no longer in pain and very happy about this. You become a part of the family as you care for the patient and encourage the family.
On another occasion a stoma patient walked in seemed very down. When I gave her guidance about managing her stoma and the right product to use and she was very grateful and hugged me, saying there was no-one else that understood what she had gone through during her stoma journey.
CANSA Service
CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. CANSA is a leading role-player in cancer research and the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support. We offer a Tele Counselling service in seven languages free of charge. We also supply patient care and support in the form of 8 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
