The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. Read more...
CANSA’s Holistic Cancer Care & Support
CANSA provides guidance and advice to cancer survivors and their families to improve their quality of life in all phases of treatment and after treatment. At our CANSA Care Centres we provide holistic care and support to cancer survivors from the time of diagnosis, through all phases of need, including survivorship.
Resources to Help Cope with Side Effects of Cancer Treatment (for Children)
CANSA partnered with Hollard to design, illustrate and produce the books in an online format that is available for free on the CANSA website. Our experienced CANSA TLC staff members, who work with children, teens, young adults and families affected by cancer daily, came up with the concept of providing reading material for children that would help […]
Read morePublished: 31 August 2023
Categories: CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme
Resources to Help with Cancer Diagnosis (Children)
When Thabo had Cancer When Thabo feels unwell his mother takes him to hospital in the city and he is diagnosed with cancer. They are told he needs to stay at the hospital to receive treatment. Thabo is sad at first, but soon makes new friends and discovers that there are many people who want […]
Read morePublished: 31 August 2023
Updated: 12 July 2024
Categories: CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme
Ons Bemagtig Adolessente en Jong Volwassenes met Kanker: KANSA Free2Bme Diens
English Media Release 23 Augustus 2023 – September is Kinderkanker Bewusmakingsmaand, en KANSA is opgewonde om ’n inspirerende inisiatief bekend te stel wat beoog om ’n groot impak te maak in die lewens van mid-adolessente en jong volwassenes (ook bekend as AYA) tussen die ouderdomme van 13 en 25 jaar wat die uitdagings van ’n […]
Read morePublished: 30 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Media Releases & News
Young Adults – Choosing Hope Amid Life Challenges
You are considered a cancer Survivor from the moment of your diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. You have already picked up some tips regarding how to deal with the first phase of survivorship, and may be about to start the second phase, both described in other sections of the AYA Free2Bme site – the phases […]
Read morePublished: 30 August 2023
Updated: 14 May 2026
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teens – Choosing Hope Amid Life Challenges
You are considered a cancer Survivor from the moment of your diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. You have already picked up some tips regarding how to deal with the first phase of survivorship, and may be about to start the second phase, both described in other sections of the AYA Free2Bme site – the phases […]
Read morePublished: 30 August 2023
Updated: 14 May 2026
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teen and Young Adult Stories of Hope
Most pages of the CANSA AYA Free2Bme site feature inspiring quotes from teens or young adults who have walked a similar path to you. This space is dedicated to giving other AYA (adolescents and young adults) HOPE as they read your stories of hope or quotes of hope – please submit them in the comment […]
Read morePublished: 30 August 2023
Updated: 3 July 2026
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Risk Factors for Cancer While we don’t understand fully what causes all cancers, unhealthy lifestyle choices have been linked to a number of cancers, so it makes sense to make healthier lifestyle choices in order to lower personal risk of cancer after treatment. Known Causes 1) Young adults with Human Immodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Aquired Immunodeficiency […]
Read morePublished: 29 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teens – Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Risk Factors for Cancer In most cancers in children and teens, we don’t understand what causes the cancer. This is why raising awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer to aid early diagnosis is very important. There are only a few known causes of cancer in teens. Known Causes 1) Current international data suggests 10% […]
Read morePublished: 29 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – Emotional Support
When receiving a cancer diagnosis and going through treatment and its side effects it can be very difficult to process all that is happening to you in the moment. You have responsibilities as a young adult and you have commitments to keep – studies, work, family. Life just keeps coming at you and you battle […]
Read morePublished: 29 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teens – Emotional Support
When receiving a cancer diagnosis and going through treatment and its side effects it can be very difficult to process all that is happening to you in the moment. In the beginning you may even be in denial, carrying on as if everything is fine. You may feel that you are in “survival mode”, just […]
Read morePublished: 29 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – Sharing My Diagnosis
Who Can I Tell? It is your choice who to tell as this is your personal journey. It will make things easier if you inform at least the people nearest to you. Keeping secrets is hard work and your extended family and friends might feel left out. Instead of avoiding them or making up a […]
Read morePublished: 28 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teens – Sharing My Diagnosis
Who Can I Tell? It is your choice who to tell as this is your personal journey. It will make things easier if you inform at least the people nearest to you. Keeping secrets is hard work and your extended family and friends might feel left out. Instead of avoiding them or making up a […]
Read morePublished: 28 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Side effects of cancer treatment may vary from person to person, even among those receiving the same treatment. Image Credit: Freepik Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy the cancer cells in your body. The type of cancer and at what stage the cancer is, will determine which chemotherapy drugs or a […]
Read morePublished: 28 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teens – Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Side effects of cancer treatment may vary from person to person, even among those receiving the same treatment. Image Credit: Freepik Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy the cancer cells in your body. The type of cancer and at what stage the cancer is, will determine which chemotherapy drugs or a […]
Read morePublished: 28 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Teens – Types of Cancer and Treatment
What is Cancer? Your body (organs and skin) is made up of trillions of cells. These cells work together, dividing and reproducing in a precise way. Old cells die off and new healthy cells take their place daily. Sometimes when cells are reproduced mistakes are made. We call these mutations. Usually the healthy cells in […]
Read morePublished: 28 August 2023
Updated: 11 April 2024
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – Types of Cancer and Treatment
What is Cancer? Your body (organs and skin) is made up of trillions of cells. These cells work together, dividing and reproducing in a precise way. Old cells die off and new healthy cells take their place daily. Sometimes when cells are reproduced mistakes are made. We call these mutations. Usually the healthy cells in […]
Read morePublished: 27 August 2023
Updated: 7 April 2026
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – My Cancer Diagnosis
Finally, school is behind you and you are about to start work or further studies towards your future career of choice. You are understanding what you want out of life better than when you were a teen and you are excited about what the future may hold for you in terms of dating and potentially […]
Read morePublished: 27 August 2023
Updated: 29 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
Young Adults – Questions to Ask Your Oncologist to Help Understand Your Diagnosis and Treatment
Sometimes a visit to the oncologist may feel overwhelming, especially when you are not used to certain medical terms. Your loved ones, relatives or a good friend could accompany you to help you take in all the information the oncologist will share. It is also useful to have a notebook to write things down, for […]
Read morePublished: 27 August 2023
Updated: 27 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
What is AYA – CANSA Free2Bme?
AYA stands for Adolescents and Young Adults. An adolescent is a teenager (13 years to 17 years of age) and a young adult is 18 years to 25 years of age. CANSA understands that being diagnosed with cancer when you are young – a teen or a young adult – may be especially overwhelming and […]
Read morePublished: 27 August 2023
Updated: 30 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
AYA Helplines and Support Groups
Cancer Support Teens If you are a teen (13 to 17 years of age) struggling with your cancer diagnosis or treatment and needing emotional or practical support, please complete and submit this online form. (This service is free of charge). Young Adults If you are a young adult struggling with your cancer diagnosis or […]
Read morePublished: 27 August 2023
Updated: 21 January 2026
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
AYA Rights
Human Rights Drafters of the South African Constitution have made children’s and teen’s (13 to 17 years old) rights a priority, as they are seen to be vulnerable. These rights are entrenched in Section 28 in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of our country. Sadly, children, teens and young adults may be vulnerable […]
Read morePublished: 27 August 2023
Updated: 29 August 2023
Categories: CANSA Free2Bme Support for Teens and Young Adults
