In South Africa alone, one out of four people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime through diagnosis of family, friends, colleagues or self.
The increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer leads to an increased number of people living with many kinds of consequences.
The first Sunday in June is set aside for celebrating hope and life with survivors and their families with a special day of hope, support and nurturing. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a survivor as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.
Although CANSA supports Survivors throughout the year, International Cancer Survivors’ Day remains a special opportunity to acknowledge cancer patients, whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment or in remission, and the courage and determination it takes to fight the disease. It’s also an occasion to inspire hope, that cancer can be beaten, and to remind survivors that they are not alone.
You are not alone and CANSA would like to support you and your loved ones. As you face your cancer diagnosis, learn to live with and through this disease and even beyond it, they would like to inspire hope and courage in you and empower you with the information you need to take control of your life.
CANSA is committed to connecting people facing cancer with information, day-to-day help as well as the emotional support they need in the communities where they live. Their aim is to ensure that cancer survivors and their loved ones don’t have to face cancer alone – CANSA is here to support them through every step of their cancer journey.
The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. CANSA is not informed of any diagnoses or of patients being treated at medical centres. Family need to obtain permission from patients, before CANSA may contact them.
You can sign up for CANSA’s iSurvivor email-based support programme and Aunt Sophia will send you weekly emails to inspire and encourage you – at no charge. She’s a cancer survivor herself, so she knows what a rollercoaster ride this cancer journey can be!
Visit www.isurvivor.org.za or www.cansa.org.za for more information on CANSA and how they can help you or your loved one.