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A Loved One has Cancer

Your blood runs cold, as you try to take in the news that your loved one has cancer.

Finding out that a loved one has cancer can be an overwhelming experience, leaving you in a state of shock. You may feel frightened, angry or saddened by the news. You may even try to deny that this could happen to your loved one.

You quickly embark on a steep learning curve about cancer, medical terminology, treatment options, and wait anxiously with your loved one for test results or treatment outcomes. There are countless decisions to be made and financial hurdles to overcome.

You may feel ill equipped to support and care for your loved one, or feel guilty because you are not coping, when they are the one facing a life threatening disease. You may feel resentful that cancer has changed your lives and burdened you both. Your loved one is also going through physical and emotional changes due to the side effects of treatment, and you may feel at a loss to deal with these changes. All of these things leave you feeling exhausted.

You need help – every bit as much as your loved one and you need not face this alone.

It is important to acknowledge your feelings and to arrange for support for yourself, if you are to help your loved one.

CANSA offers counselling and you are welcome to join our Facebook Support Group CANSA Survivors – Champions of Hope for loved ones and patients. Here you can connect with others in a similar position and find valuable tips to help your loved one cope with treatment. Find more online resources to help your loved one…

Remember to take care of your physical and emotional needs – eat well and get enough exercise and sleep. Also make sure that you don’t neglect regular health checks and cancer screening.

Knowledge for Life: CANSA Unveils Podcast Series For #GivingTuesday

In a significant step towards community education, CANSA introduces a podcast series sharing helpful insights into lowering the cancer risk and care. This initiative underlines CANSA’s commitment to educating the public with knowledge that can make a difference in the fight against cancer…

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Published: 7 December 2023
Updated: 8 December 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, About Cancer, Advocacy, Balanced Lifestyle, CANSA Highlights, CANSA on the Move for the Youth, CANSA's Seal of Recognition, Caregiving and Cancer, Environment, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Men's Health, No Alcohol, No-Tobacco Campaign, Our Corporate Social Investment Partners, SunSmart, Women's Health, World Cancer Day - 4 Feb

Comedy Central’s Novemballs Campaign: A Hilarious Mission to Protect Your Precious Jewels

Comedy Central, the brand that makes life funnier, is proud to announce the return of its award-winning cancer-awareness campaign, Novemballs! As a brand that always strives to tell the funny truths, Comedy Central is taking this opportunity to spotlight the importance of “taking care of your balls”. Comedy Central has teamed up with CANSA to bring you Novemballs, a testicular cancer awareness campaign to educate men about lowering their cancer risk…

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Published: 7 November 2023
Updated: 8 December 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Men's Health

Renel Le Roux and Zanele Mkhwanazi Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) survivors Share their Journey

Two Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) survivors share their journey as we mark International Metastatic Breast Cancer Day…

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Published: 13 October 2023
Updated: 31 October 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Types of cancer, Women's Health

Impact of Breast Cancer on Mental Health

Breast cancer affects many South African women being the most common among women in the country. Prioritising mental well-being can make the breast cancer journey more manageable. CANSA understands this and offers counselling services and support groups to support cancer survivors and caregivers emotionally.

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Published: 28 September 2023
Updated: 31 October 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Women's Health

Casting Light on Lymphoma: Understanding a Stealthy Disease

CANSA marks World Lymphoma Day on 15 September, raising awareness of lymphoma, a cancer impacting thousands of lives.  This annual event highlights the importance of early detection, advancements in treatment, and the determined spirit of individuals living with lymphoma head-on. Chantel Memziwe, a cancer survivor, shares a remarkable tale of courage and resilience, when getting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL). Diagnosed twice with this cancer, first in 2017 with stage 4 NHL, Chantel’s journey symbolises unwavering determination…

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Published: 13 September 2023
Updated: 8 December 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Types of cancer, Women's Health

Chantel Memziwe NHL Survivor Outrunning Cancer – Perseverance Leads to Triumph

Chantel Memziwe is a determined lady! Never letting her cancer diagnosis or treatment get the best of her, she kept pursuing her love of running and achieving the goals she had set for herself. We are so fortunate that she is one of our CANSA Active Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Ambassadors for 2023. Chantel is also a member of our Facebook Support group for cancer patients and loved ones, Champions of Hope. Read her remarkable story of perseverance…

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Published: 13 September 2023
Updated: 29 September 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, I have Cancer, Stories of Hope, Women's Health

Your Goodwill Legacy is in Your Hands

Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) allows reflection on Madiba’s values and principles and to choose to make a positive impact on communities. CANSA invites everyone to support a CANSA Care Home to give patients an opportunity to be treated at oncology centres, who are otherwise too far away from these centres to receive treatment…

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Published: 5 August 2023
Updated: 31 August 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News

Journal for Women with Cancer to Benefit CANSA

Wilderness to Wellness proudly announces its partnership with CANSA through the sales of its Journal aimed at women living with cancer as part of International Cancer Survivors’ month in June.

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Published: 23 June 2023
Updated: 4 August 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Women's Health

Wilderness to Wellness – A Journal for Women with Cancer to Benefit CANSA

CANSA will receive 20% of the profit from the sale of Wilderness to Wellness journals for women with cancer…

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Published: 22 June 2023
Updated: 23 June 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, I have Cancer, Our Cause Related Marketing Partners, Women's Health

Love Shack SA Branded Cancer Awareness T-shirts & Mugs to Benefit CANSA

The Love Shack SA will donate R20 from the sale of every cancer awareness T-shirt sold, and R7,50 per standard mug and R9,50 per magic mug sold…

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Published: 2 June 2023
Updated: 2 June 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Caregiving and Cancer, Fundraising Events & Projects, I have Cancer, No Alcohol, Our Cause Related Marketing Partners, Women's Health

CANSA BMSF Multiple Myeloma Programme

What is Multiple Myeloma? Multiple Myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help fight infections by making antibodies that recognise and attack germs. Cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, […]

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Published: 3 May 2023
Updated: 15 June 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, I have Cancer, Types of cancer

CANSA Ask The Expert Virtual Support Group – 26 April 2023

Join our virtual support group – on 26 April 2023 – where guest speaker, Dr Kerry-Ann Louw discusses depression and anxiety.

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Published: 21 April 2023
Updated: 30 May 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health

CANSA Service Spotlight – Sr Vlooi Venter and Stoma Department on World Ostomy Day

Sr Vlooi Venter is CANSA’s Clinical Support and Stoma Manager. She says,”It can take a while to adapt to living with a stoma, this is not an easy process, so it is important to seek guidance and educate yourself and loved ones. Taking a new ostomate’s hand, who is about to give up on life, and easing their anxiety by walking alongside them teaching them about life with a stoma and stoma products, until they feel they have regained their independence and will to live is immensely satisfying”…

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Published: 20 March 2023
Updated: 31 October 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Highlights, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health, Work for CANSA

CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support Group – 22 March 2023

22 March 2023 – CANSA support group member, Ben George, shares his journey with cancer.

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Published: 16 March 2023
Updated: 23 March 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health

CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support Group – 22 February 2023

22 February 2023 – Topic:  Palliative Care and My Cancer Journey – the speaker is Dr Thilo Govender…

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Published: 20 February 2023
Updated: 22 February 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health

CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 7 December 2022

Whytie de Witt will be sharing about his cancer journey…

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Published: 2 December 2022
Updated: 9 December 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health

Cape Argus Facebook Live – Get Educated About Breast Cancer – 27 October 2022

Watch video recording – Dr Francois Malherbe, Head of Breast and Surgical Endocrine Unit Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, and Lucy Balona (CANSA) discussed breast cancer on Facebook…

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Published: 25 October 2022
Updated: 22 December 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Women's Health

CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 8 October 2022

Virtual CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 8 October 2022 with Shaheed Mahomed.

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Published: 6 October 2022
Updated: 10 October 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health

Seminar: Unpacking the Implications of Constitutional Guarantees on the Right to Health for Cancer Patients

CANSA / Cancer Alliance invites you to a seminar on 6 October 2022 “Unpacking the Implications of Constitutional Guarantees on the Right to Health for Cancer Patients”…

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Published: 25 September 2022
Updated: 7 October 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer

Children, Food and Cancer  

In September, CANSA raises awareness of childhood cancer and the importance of support for children and parents affected specifically regarding food and diets. CANSA TLC partnered with B-well to produce a booklet, ‘Understanding a Child’s Dietary Needs When They are Diagnosed with Cancer’ for parents to better manage the dietary side effects their children experience while on cancer treatment…

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Published: 20 September 2022
Updated: 17 October 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Caregiving and Cancer, Dietary Tips

CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 27 August 2022

CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 27 August 2022. Our speaker will be Michael Meredith (neuroendocrine lung cancer Survivor, trained counsellor and end of life doula…

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Published: 25 August 2022
Updated: 29 August 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health

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