Stoma Resources, Care and Support

Stoma Counselling:

CANSA offers free pre- and post-operative counselling.  Advice is given to ostomates and family members in order to empower them to cope with living with a stoma day-to-day.

Tele Stoma Support:

For ostomates or family members of ostomates living far from their nearest CANSA Care Centre, our CANSA Tele Stoma Support service is a life-line. Make an appointment via our Toll Free line on 0800 22 66 22 or email info@cansa.org.za to receive free stoma-specific advice, and a trained stoma consultant will give you a call during working hours (08:00 to 16:30).

Sale of Stoma Products and Accessories

Stoma (ostomy) supplies and accessories can be ordered or purchased from the CANSA Pretoria Stoma Clinic.

For a minimal fee products can be couriered to your door or to your closest CANSA Care Centre.

CANSA stocks some of the biggest brands such as Coloplast, Convatec, Hollister, BBraun and Ligamed and guarantees affordable prices, professional assistance and speedy delivery.

Products and accessories include baseplates for stoma bags, stoma bags, skin care products and products that maintain seals and prevent leakage of stoma bags.

Medical aid and cash clients are catered for. CANSA motivates and obtains authorisation on behalf of ostomates from their medical aids for ostomy supplies and packages individual ostomy supply parcels for them. Courier services deliver stoma products to ostomates if necessary.

Stoma Clinics:

Stoma products may be ordered through our Stoma Clinic in Pretoria:

• CANSA Pretoria Stoma Clinic – Tel: 012 329 3036, address: 32 Lys Street, Rietfontein (daily walk-ins for purchase of products)

Appointments with Stoma Therapists:

Note: other CANSA Care Centres offering stoma clinics (see below) do not stock stoma products – all products must be ordered from the CANSA Pretoria Stoma Clinic.

Ostomates need to book an appointment with the Stoma Therapist who offers advice regarding lifestyle adaptation, skin care needs and practical application of stoma products at our local CANSA Care Centres offering stoma clinics:

• Bloemfontein Stoma Clinic – Tel: 051-444 2580 – 90 Melville Drive, Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9301
• Bedfordview Stoma Clinic – Tel: 011-616 7662 – 26 Concorde Road West, Bedfordview, 2008
• Pretoria Stoma Clinic – Tel: 012 329 3036 – 32 Lys Street, Rietfontein, 0001
• Durban Stoma Clinic – Tel: 031-205 9525 – 619 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001
• Athlone Stoma Clinic – Tel: 021-689 5347 – 7 Dunbar Avenue, Athlone
• Paarl Stoma Clinic – Tel: 021-873 6358 – No 2 Monte Rosa Building, 276 Main Road, Paarl, 7646

Where a CANSA Care Centre is not equipped to provide the above-mentioned service, patients will be referred to reliable service providers in their local community.

Stoma Products for Financially Challenged Clients:

Thanks to a partnership with Footprints 2 Africa, CANSA is able to provide free stoma products to cancer patients in need. Read details in this post…

Queries:

Stoma Products: Inge Morgan stomapta@cansa.org.za

Stoma Clinical Counselling: Sr Vlooi Venter vventer@cansa.org.za

The word ‘stoma’ originates from the Greek language and means ‘mouth or opening’.  Stoma types include: colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy.

A stoma is an artificial passageway (hole) the surgeon makes into the digestive or urinary tract in order to help the body get rid of waste (faeces or urine), when the body is not able to do in the usual manner.

Some people have a temporary stoma (an artificial opening into the colon), made during their treatment for bowel cancer. This is closed a few months later when the bowel has fully healed.

However when the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system or sphincter mechanism are not able to function normally again, then the stoma is permanent and cannot be closed.

The colostomy bag is designed to stick onto the abdomen where it collects the faeces and flatus from the stoma (opening). It is waterproof so one can wear it while showering or bathing.

Most colostomy bags have several special features including a filter – which works by releasing flatus so the bag does not inflate (which is called ‘ballooning’).

The filter also has a deodorising action to make sure there is no smell, which is one of the things people worry about the most.

General queries regarding the above-mentioned may be directed to Sr Vlooi Venter vventer@cansa.org.za

Me+ Resources:

Become a member of Me+ and have access to more resources…

• Understanding your stoma
• Ostomy terms

Ostomate WhatsApp Support Group:

Join the support group and connect with other ostomates by submitting the online form.

Stoma Counselling:

CANSA offers free pre- and post-operative counselling.  Advice is given to ostomates and family members in order to empower them to cope with living with a stoma day-to-day.

Tele Stoma Support:

For ostomates or family members of ostomates living far from their nearest CANSA Care Centre, our CANSA Tele Stoma Support service is a life-line. Make an appointment via our Toll Free line on 0800 22 66 22 or email info@cansa.org.za to receive free stoma-specific advice, and a trained stoma consultant will give you a call during working hours (08:00 to 16:30).

Find some useful tips regarding what to expect before, after and during surgery, as well as some questions you should ask your medical team:

• CANSA Fact Sheet: Stoma and Stoma Care

General queries regarding surgery and what to expect may be directed to Sr Vlooi Venter vventer@cansa.org.za

Me+ Resources:

Become a member of Me+ and have access to more resources…

• Pre-surgery visit
• Before surgery
• Surgery
• Before Surgery
• What to expect in hospital
• After surgery
• Colostomy surgery
• Urostomy surgery
• Ileostomy surgery
• Immediate weeks following surgery
• Recovery

Lifestyle changes may have to be made so that you can live a happy, healthy and fulfilled life as an ostomate:

• CANSA Fact Sheet: Stoma and Stoma Care
• Poster: Stoma Tips & Tricks – Restrooms and Travel

Your medical team will guide you regarding a diet which will help manage your stoma, and you may also contact Sr Vlooi Venter vventer@cansa.org.za for advice:

• CANSA Fact Sheet: Nutritional Guidelines for Individuals living with a Colostomy
• CANSA Fact Sheet: Nutritional Guidelines for Individuals Living with an Ileostomy
• CANSA Fact Sheet: Nutritional Guidelines for Individuals Living with a Urostomy

Vera SA Ostomy Underwear

Vera SA’s ostomy underwear range for male and female stoma wearers (colostomy, urostomy or ileostomy) can help improve confidence as products stylishly conceal and discreetly support ostomy pouches. Contact Vera SA for more information or purchase online…

Me+ Resources:

Become a member of Me+ and have access to more resources…

• Stoma Care
• Skin Care Tips
• Diet
• Activity
• Style
• Travel
• Relationships

Ostomate WhatsApp Support Group:

Join the support group and connect with other ostomates by submitting the online form.

Stoma Counselling:

CANSA offers free pre- and post-operative counselling.  Advice is given to ostomates and family members in order to empower them to cope with living with a stoma day-to-day.

Tele Stoma Support:

For ostomates or family members of ostomates living far from their nearest CANSA Care Centre, our CANSA Tele Stoma Support service is a life-line. Make an appointment via our Toll Free line on 0800 22 66 22 or email info@cansa.org.za to receive free stoma-specific advice, and a trained stoma consultant will give you a call during working hours (08:00 to 16:30).

CANSA Tele Counselling:

Note: this is not stoma-specific counselling, whereas Tele Stoma support is…

It’s not easy to adjust to life with a stoma, and often this affects the ostomate and family members or caregivers too.

CANSA offers a free Tele Counselling service around adjusting to life with cancer.

This is confidential, professional, cancer-related telephonic counselling to cancer patients, caregivers and their families and parents or guardians of children living with cancer.

Counselling is available in most SA languages and is free of charge.

Make an appointment by submitting the online form to receive free counselling, and a trained counsellor will give you a call during working hours (08:00 to 16:30).

Ostomate WhatsApp Support Group

Join the support group and connect with other ostomates by submitting the online form.

Facebook Support Groups

CANSA Survivors – Champions of Hope for cancer Survivors (patients / those in remission), which include ostomates, and loved ones – receive encouragement from fellow members and share your story

CANSA Caring for the Caregivers for Caregivers of cancer Survivors (patients) – receive encouragement from fellow members and share your story

SA Society of Stomates (SASS) Facebook Page

Share your Story

Me+ Resources:

Become a member of Me+ and join the Me+ community…

SASS:

The SA Society of Stomates 

• CANSA online resources for coping with cancer
• CANSA Fact Sheets: Types of Cancer (view your specific type of cancer)

Me+ Resources:

Become a member of Me+ and have access to more resources…

• Blog
• Useful links

Webinars

• Intimacy for Ostomates (2024) – recording available
• Talking Stoma on World Ostomy Day (2 October 2021) – recording available
• Let’s Get Chatty about Stoma Care (7 April 2021) – recording available

If you believe that your rights as an ostomate are being violated or ignored, please report this or any stock shortages at government facilities to CANSA, by completing this online form or phone our Toll Free line: 0800 22 66 22

Charter Ostomates’ Rights (International Ostomy Association)

Ostomates have to receive the information and care which will enable them to live a self-determined and independent life and to participate in all decision-making processes.

It is the declared objective of the International Ostomy Association (IOA) that this CHARTER shall be realised in all Countries of the World.

The Ostomate shall:

• Receive pre-operative counseling to ensure that they are fully aware of the benefits of the operation and the essential facts about living with a stoma.
• Have a well-constructed stoma placed at an appropriate site, and with full and proper consideration to the comfort of the patient.
• Receive experienced and professional medical support and stoma nursing care in the preoperative and postoperative period both in hospital and in their community.
• Receive support and information for the benefit of the family, caregivers and friends to increase their understanding of the conditions and adjustments which are necessary for achieving a satisfactory standard of life with a stoma.
• Receive full and impartial information about all relevant supplies and products available in their Country.
• Have unrestricted access to a variety of affordable ostomy products.
• Be given information about their National Ostomy Association and the services and support which can be provided.
• Be protected against all forms of discrimination.
• Receive assurance that personal information regarding their ostomy surgery will be treated with discretion and confidentiality to maintain privacy; and that no information about their medical condition will be disclosed by anyone possessing this information, to an entity that engages in the manufacture, sales or distribution of ostomy or related products; nor shall it be disclosed to any person that will benefit, directly or indirectly, because of their relation to the commercial ostomy market without the expressed consent of the ostomate.

Issued by: the IOA Coordination Committee

Original: June 1993 | Revisions: June 1997 | Revised by World Council 2004 | 2007

Source: SASS

Faizel Jacobs

Faizel Jacobs, cancer Survivor and ostomate, with support from CANSA and stoma nurses, is able to live life to the full – view video…