Please see list of donations required at the bottom of the post
The CANSA TLC Tygerberg Teenage Support Room is situated in Parow, on the grounds of Tygerberg Hospital, in a secure environment, in Proteahof (next to nursing college). The facility is open 7 days per week but closes down in December, and accommodates teen patients and their parents, while they are receiving treatment at Tygerberg Hospital.
Bedrooms: 2 rooms with 2 beds for child / teen aged 10-18 yrs with parent
Kitchen: self catering
Bathrooms: shared facilities with adult patients
Support offered: crafts, one on one sessions, share sessions, palliative support (per ward referrals), preparation for dying and breaking of bad news (per doctor’s request), debriefing and bereavement support (after death or prior to amputation), support groups, home visits (on doctor’s request), food parcels (when available), and care packs (when available).
Referrals are made through Tygerberg Hospital’s Oncology Department. General queries may be directed to staff at the TLC Tygerberg Lodge on 021-931 0990.
1st Floor, 3rd Tower, Protea Hof (next to nursing college),
Tygerberg Hospital, Fransie van Zyl Avenue, Tygerberg, Parow, 7505
P.O. Box 186, Rondebosch, 7701
Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) number – Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA): 130001397
Non Profit Organisation Registration number – Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA): 000-524 NPO
About TLC Tygerberg Teenage Support Room
CANSA launched one of the few teen cancer patient rooms in the country, at Ward 3, Tygerberg Hospital, as part of its CANSA TLC (Tough Living with Cancer) support service to children, teens and families affected by cancer on 14 February 2020, just ahead of International Childhood Cancer Day (15 February).
Cara Noble, CANSA’s previous National Relationship Manager: Service Delivery said, “We’re pleased to launch the teen cancer patient room that can accommodate two teens accompanied by a parent or a caregiver. As children in Ward G3 older than 14 years are moved over to X-Block with adult patients, the need arose to continue providing support to these teens. They were too old to be in Ward G3, but the youngest by far in X-Block.”
Operational Manager of Ward G3 at Tygerberg Hospital, Sister Eleanor De Beer added, “This is such a needed service for our many teenagers we serve here. We’re grateful and excited that we can offer them a warm and welcoming place to stay while they are on their treatment journey. Our parents appreciate the opportunity to still be with their children, even though they are teenagers, this is not possible in the adult wards.”
Professor Mariana Kruger (Head of Paediatric Oncology at Tygerberg Hospital) and Dr Fatima Bassa (Divisional Head of Clinical Haematology at X-Block) were instrumental in paving the way for CANSA TLC to extend its services to young patients at X-Block.
CANSA TLC has been active in Ward G3, Tygerberg Hospital since June 2016 as the current preferred service delivery provider offering a support group and craft activities in partnership with Sisanda Foundation. CANSA further introduced monthly food parcels to needy families and outreach activities and outings with oncology children as well as including their siblings and parents.
Breyten Paulse, SA rugby legend, cut the ribbon during the launch ceremony.
Be a Gift to a Child in Need:
Please consider making a donation towards supporting our TLC programme so that we can help more children and families. Donations will assist with the provision of prosthetic support (children who have lost an eye or limb); the provision of wheelchairs; pain control implants and medical equipment. Food, clothing and toiletry donations are always welcome…
Queries CANSA
Get in touch with us by sending us a message on Facebook or phoning CANSA’s Help Desk toll free: 0800 22 66 22 or email us at info@cansa.org.za – you can also message us on WhatsApp: 072 197 9305 (English and Afrikaans) or 071 867 3530 (isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana)
CANSA Tele Counselling can be accessed via the CANSA Help Desk on 0800 22 66 22 toll free, to make an appointment with a CANSA counsellor. Or send an email to the Help Desk via counselling@cansa.org.za – this is a confidential, professional, cancer-related telephonic counselling service to cancer patients, caregivers and their families and parents or guardians of children living with cancer. Counselling is available in seven languages (English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana) and is free of charge.
2022 – Donations Required:
- We’d love for our teens to have a comfy spot to chill. Please consider donating a x2 tub chairs, x3 poofs, x1 two-seater couch.
- Teens like to take their minds off treatment – we are looking for donations of a television, tablets and educational games.
- We also would like to store food more easily and are in need of a deep freeze.
- Help us keep laundry under control by donating a tumble dryer and a washing machine.
- Donations towards food parcels for patients are also welcome, and we are always in need of warm clothes for teens.
Contact Person:
Anina Meiring ameiring@cansa.org.za or 084 519 3312
