The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. Read more...
Caregivers play an integral role in their cancer patient or loved one’s journey. They are the soldiers fighting behind the scenes for their patients or loved ones.
We salute your commitment and determination to care, regardless of what may be required of you, and we want you to know that we are here for you, because you need support too.
We know that most Caregivers don’t choose this role, but it is one that is suddenly thrown upon their shoulders when a family member, loved one or colleague is diagnosed with cancer and urgently needs support and care. No first-time caregiver knows what to do, as no journey with cancer is the same and there are no rules and regulations to follow, however CANSA is able to offer knowledge, information, support and encouragement whenever required.
At times compassion fatigue sets in where the Caregiver no longer cares for themselves. Known as ‘Caregiver Burnout’, this condition is the culmination of stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and low self-esteem. It is essential that this is dealt with sooner rather than later.
Infographic – Tips to Avoid Burnout
Fact Sheet – Guidelines for Caregivers on Taking Care of Themselves
Patient Rights and Rights of Caregivers
Guide for Palliative Care at Home
We recognise that Caregiving is very stressful, and we have created a Facebook Support Group CANSA Caring for the Caregivers to enable Caregivers to meet with others in a similar position and to share caregiving tips / advice and caregiving highs and lows. There are also online resources which Caregivers may share with their loved one or patient.
Dominique Forbes-Rose (Caregiver) says of caregiving, “In many ways it is a very lonely journey. It is just as traumatising for the carer, as for the cancer patient. You give so much of yourself to look after your loved one, you have no time to look after yourself. And with that, you don’t want to worry the patient about everything that you are taking care of behind the scenes, because they need to focus on getting healthy. It is probably the toughest mental wellness journey you can ever go through, and you need a support network to help you. I am so grateful that CANSA has a platform of support for us carers – it is so important to get that support.”
CANSA also offers support through counselling and training on how to support a patients. You can also enquire about our community home based care, CANSA Care Homes for patients receiving treatment far from home and CANSA Care Rooms providing respite care. We can also assist your loved one or patient with dietary tips; stoma care and affordable quality products; advice regarding lymphoedema management; breast prostheses and bras; adult incontinence wear, wigs (natural or synthetic); medical equipment hire and assistive devices.
Contact your local CANSA Care Centre for more information.
22 March 2023 – CANSA support group member, Ben George, shares his journey with cancer.
Read morePublished: 16 Mar 2023
Updated: 16 Mar 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Highlights, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
22 February 2023 – Topic: Palliative Care and My Cancer Journey – the speaker is Dr Thilo Govender…
Read morePublished: 20 Feb 2023
Updated: 22 Feb 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
Whytie de Witt will be sharing about his cancer journey…
Read morePublished: 2 Dec 2022
Updated: 9 Dec 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
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…
Read morePublished: 25 Oct 2022
Updated: 22 Dec 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Women's Health
Virtual CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 8 October 2022 with Shaheed Mahomed.
Read morePublished: 6 Oct 2022
Updated: 10 Oct 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
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”…
Read morePublished: 25 Sep 2022
Updated: 7 Oct 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have 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…
Read morePublished: 20 Sep 2022
Updated: 17 Oct 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. Our speaker will be Michael Meredith (neuroendocrine lung cancer Survivor, trained counsellor and end of life doula…
Read morePublished: 25 Aug 2022
Updated: 29 Aug 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
Charmaine Stumke, shares her journey as caregiver to her husband Len…
Read morePublished: 24 Jul 2022
Updated: 28 Jul 2022
Categories: Caregiving and Cancer
CANSA invites male cancer patients and survivors to join our next support group meeting via Zoom. We are excited that our speaker will be Xylon van Eyck, cancer survivor and Ironman athlete, sharing his journey and how he overcomes challenges…
Read morePublished: 21 Jul 2022
Updated: 28 Jul 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
CANSA is committed to protecting the rights of cancer patients and caregivers, having established a free Tele Counselling service (available in seven languages), two years ago in commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July). CANSA recognises commitment to human rights and that all affected by cancer are entitled to psycho-social support…
Read morePublished: 15 Jul 2022
Updated: 1 Sep 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Eastern Cape, CANSA Free State, CANSA Gauteng, CANSA KwaZulu-Natal, CANSA Limpopo, CANSA Mpumalanga, CANSA North West, CANSA Northern Cape, CANSA Western Cape, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News
Join the CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group on 25 June 2022 from 9 00 to 10 00…
Read morePublished: 24 Jun 2022
Updated: 27 Jun 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
As part of International Cancer Survivors’ Day, CANSA launches a free CANSA Pain Manager app, in association with the Centre of Community Technology at Nelson Mandela University (CCT), sponsored by Pfizer. It’s in the format of a diary or calendar allowing the patient / caregiver to input relevant information such as logging pain experienced daily and allows input reminders of medication schedule / dosage and appointments.
Read morePublished: 1 Jun 2022
Updated: 1 Sep 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Men's Health, Women's Health
Join the CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group on 28 May 2022 | 09:00-10:00
Read morePublished: 23 May 2022
Updated: 24 Jun 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
Any patient can request palliative care! It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided alongside potentially curative treatment…
Read morePublished: 2 May 2022
Updated: 16 Aug 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health
CANSA has partnered with Alignd, a value-based care and patient-centric organisation working with medical schemes to improve access to and cover for palliative care from diagnosis of serious cancer…
Read morePublished: 2 May 2022
Updated: 6 May 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health
Male cancer patients finally have the opportunity to meet each other and share in a safe space. Male cancer patients are invited to join the next support group meeting via Zoom: Saturday, 19 March 2022…
Read morePublished: 17 Mar 2022
Updated: 22 Mar 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
On 21 March, Human Rights’ Day is celebrated coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, that enshrines the rights of all people in South Africa and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) upholds and helps protect the human rights of cancer patients, by speaking on behalf of patients through its Advocacy and Service departments and facilitating improved access to medication, treatment and palliative care…
Read morePublished: 16 Mar 2022
Updated: 19 May 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, About CANSA, Advocacy, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News
Cancer is a debilitating disease and can place an enormous physical, emotional, social, and financial burden on the people providing long-term, continuous care for affected patients. Join us for our third online webinar, in recognition of World Cancer Day in February. Brought to you by Novartis, Rare Diseases South Africa (RDSA), in association with CANSA, The Breast Health Foundation and Meta Buddies, would like to invite all caregivers, patients and those advocating to bridge the gap for patient care to join us as we discuss these challenges…
Read morePublished: 23 Jan 2022
Updated: 23 Jan 2023
Categories: CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer
Male cancer patients finally have the opportunity to meet each other and share in a safe space. Male cancer patients are invited to join the first support group meeting via Zoom on Saturday, 27 November 2021 at 9:00 to 10:30….
Read morePublished: 26 Nov 2021
Updated: 6 Dec 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
A round table discussion via Zoom took place on Thursday, 11 November 2021, featuring a cancer patient; Dr Poovan Govender, Oncologist, and a palliative care nurse, Zodwa Sithole (CANSA Head of Advocacy), and caregiver, Christa Matthee – recording now available…
Read morePublished: 9 Nov 2021
Updated: 16 Nov 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, No-Tobacco Campaign, Types of cancer
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