Cope with Cancer

Farmer’s Skin Cancer Ordeal

Ken was a farmer – which meant being on the lands from dawn till dusk and spending many hours outdoors. Days were spent catching tigerfish in Kariba Dam  – his passion – without the protection offered by a hat and sunscreen. This meant his exposure to UV rays reached frightening levels. Years later the cancer […]

Published: 29 November 2013
Updated: 7 August 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope

Love Your Nuts – Torsten Koehler – Testicular Cancer Survivor

Torsten Koehler was a primary school biology teacher at the time he discovered he had aggressive testicular cancer. He has written a book ‘Love Your Nuts’ about his journey along the road to recovery and is actively involved in promoting awareness re testicular cancer.  Read more about Torsten’s journey below and visit his website for more […]

Published: 14 November 2013
Updated: 9 March 2021
Categories: Men's Health, Stories of Hope

Thank You For Saving My Life

Lou Corbitt, prostate cancer survivor, wrote a letter to the Maritzburg Sun: I read an article by CANSA advising all men to take advantage of free blood analysis to detect their Prostate Serum Antigen (PSA) levels in order to detect prostate cancer. A friend and I went along to get tested. I was asked to return […]

Published: 14 November 2013
Updated: 9 July 2025
Categories: Men's Health, Stories of Hope

Elana Afrika – You’re Not Alone – We can Walk this Journey Together

14 October 2013 – When radio personality Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp was a young girl, she sang along to Survivor by Destiny’s Child because it had a catchy tune. It was only years later that the song developed a special meaning for her – when she came face to face with the possibility of being diagnosed with […]

Published: 24 October 2013
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Cope with Cancer

Double Dose of Cancer – Anne Inspires Survivors

Says Anne, “I stay in touch with over 200 cancer Survivors in my community throughout the year, phoning them on a monthly basis, encouraging them to keep on fighting cancer, as they journey towards recovery. I also organise a Survivor’s Day to celebrate cancer Survivors. They are a constant source of wonder and I have such great respect for the way they cope, without complaint! Their positive attitude and perseverance is inspiring. “

Published: 24 October 2013
Updated: 29 August 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire, Women's Health

Rachel Inspires After Double Mastectomy

Says Rachel, breast cancer Survivor and CANSA Volunteer, “I am inspired by John C. Maxwell: ‘Forget what hurt you, never forget what it taught you’.” Her message to newly diagnosed patients is that there’s always hope. “Do not give in, do not give up, you will make it… You are more than a conqueror!”

Published: 11 October 2013
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire, Women's Health

What Will You Do For The Best Possible Survival

Madhuri Chavda is a wife and mother, a Hindu woman with a proud cultural tradition who comes from a family that still owns the same chain of shoe stores as it did when she was a little girl. Madhuri is as involved in her community as she is in maintaining a warm and spotless home, […]

Published: 11 October 2013
Updated: 29 August 2025
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health

Teresa Wilson – Breast Cancer Survivor

As a healthy, Comrades-running mother and business woman, cancer was the last thing Teresa ever thought would happen to her. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago. She lost her step-mother to cancer in 2004 and her father in 2010. Cancer was an all too familiar concept to Teresa, yet she never […]

Published: 11 October 2013
Updated: 25 October 2022
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health

Video: E.tv insert – CANSA and Cervical cancer vaccines

Cervical cancer vaccine welcomed 19 May 2013 – Government’s decision to vaccinate schoolgirls against cervical cancer has been welcomed. The Cancer Association of South Africa is happy that the Health Department will roll-out a vaccine early next year. In the video: Maria Mulder, Cervical Cancer survivor with her husband, Theunis Mulder and CANSA’s CEO, Sue […]

Published: 11 October 2013
Updated: 12 July 2021
Categories: Types of cancer, Women's Health

Can I Use Hair Dye After Chemo?

Changes in your hair can affect how you feel about yourself. For some people this change is one of the worst parts of their treatment. It is understandable that you might not want to wait to dye your hair, but take this information into account before you take the plunge.

Published: 10 October 2013
Updated: 12 July 2021
Categories: I have Cancer, Women's Health

Learning to be a Caregiver For Someone with Cancer

I’ll never forget the fall of 2005. It was an extremely happy period in my life, but I also fell to an extreme low. This was the year that my wife Heather was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Published: 17 April 2013
Updated: 5 February 2020
Categories: Caregiving and Cancer

Henk Warns: Colorectal Cancer Affects Young People Too!

It was while he was living an active life and enjoying a lovely holiday in the Sabie in June 2012, that Henk Ferreira started realising that his body wasn’t functioning as it is supposed to. After experiencing stomach problems and cramps for little while and realising that none of his prescribed medication was improving his […]

Published: 2 April 2013
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope

Cancer in Africa – Documentary

Published: 25 February 2013
Updated: 10 March 2021
Categories: About Cancer

Petition Against Sunbeds – Keeping the Youth Safe from Skin Cancer

4 February 2013: As part of World Cancer Day on Monday 4, February 2013 CANSA presented to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, a document of support to ban the use of sunbeds by kids under the age of 18 during a school assembly at the Uitsig High School in Centurion, Pretoria. Sunbeds […]

Published: 4 February 2013
Updated: 9 July 2025
Categories: Advocacy, Cancer Myths, SunSmart

Ken die Feite oor Kanker Mites

English Press Release 28 Januarie 2013: Maandag 4 Februarie 2013,  is Wêreld Kankerdag en KANSA het ‘n lys van algemene mites en korrekte feite saamgesel om skadelike mites en wanopvattings oor kanker te weerspreek. Wêreld-Kankerdag vind elke jaar plaas en is ‘n eenvormige inisiatief waaronder die hele wêreld verenig in die stryd teen die globale […]

Published: 29 January 2013
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Cancer Myths

Know the Facts re Cancer Myths

Afrikaanse Persvrystelling 26 January 2013: Monday 4th February 2013, marks World Cancer Day and CANSA will focus on dispelling damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer by sharing a list of common myths with the correct facts. World Cancer Day takes place every year and is the singular initiative under which the entire world can unite […]

Published: 29 January 2013
Updated: 4 June 2025
Categories: About Cancer, Cancer Myths

Cancer Myths – Get the Facts on World Cancer Day – 4 Feb 2013

Cancer – Did you know? There are many myths regarding cancer out there and many lead to false hope. On World Cancer Day (WCD), 4th February 2013, get the facts about cancer myths: Read CANSA’s WCD press release: English | Afrikaans CANSA hands over supporting document to ban sunbeds u/18’s as part of raising awareness […]

Published: 22 January 2013
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: About Cancer, Cancer Myths

Lessons Learnt from Cancer – Volunteer and cancer Survivor Neil Shares

A cancer symposium was held on 26 October 2012 in the CANSA Central Gauteng region. The day was a success and one of CANSA’s volunteers and a cancer Survivor, Neil Macphail gave a presentation entitled “Lessons learnt from cancer.”  Neil is willing to share this presentation with other survivors and their families. In summary, Neil says – Develop […]

Published: 29 November 2012
Updated: 7 April 2026
Categories: Stories of Hope, Volunteers Inspire

5 Steps to Beating Cancer in SA

28 Sep 2012 – Mail & Guardian – Mia Malan: The five steps below could reduce deaths from cancer in South Africa, according to the CANSA’s Head of Research, Dr Carl Albrecht. Vaccinate All Girls Against HPV: If all 10-year-old South African girls are vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV), the country’s cervical cancer rate […]

Published: 18 October 2012
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: About Cancer

Die Pad Wat Ons Stap – Ons Kankerreis

“Die pad wat ek stap is een van wonderwerke, onbeskryflik baie genade, dankbaarheid en liefde,” – dit is drie vroue van Oudtshoorn eens, wat onderskeidelik gediagnoseer is met Bors- en Servikale Kanker. Al drie van hulle het chirurgie, chemoterapie en bestralingsterapie ontvang. Foto regs – Anina Meiring, Maria Oosthuizen, Maurita Hartzenberg. Kanker is een van […]

Published: 28 September 2012
Updated: 4 June 2024
Categories: Stories of Hope, Women's Health

Interview: Cancer is Just a Word

I am a survivor…  

Published: 23 September 2012
Updated: 9 July 2025
Categories: Cope with Cancer, Stories of Hope