Lorraine Govender, CANSA’s Manager, in KwaZulu-Natal elaborates, “Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths amongst men and women worldwide, and in South Africa, it is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths. The National Cancer Registry reported that, in 2017, lung cancer was the third most diagnosed cancer amongst men and the fifth most amongst women. According to Bruni, et al. (2019), the 2018 burden of lung cancer in South Africa was estimated at 8,239 and 7,770 annual lung cancer cases and deaths, respectively. As captured in the 2017 National Cancer Registry Report, lung cancer remains one of the top cancers among men and women in South Africa.”
Most commonly, many patients present to health facilities with advanced symptoms of lung cancer. This project will address the identified gaps in lung cancer awareness and early diagnosis through a multi-faceted and sustained awareness programme targeted at five communities located in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
“Public private partnerships of this nature certainly strengthens CANSA’s footprint in communities at grassroots level allowing more communities to benefit from education and awareness on common cancers affecting the South African public. Early detection can save lives”, added Govender.
The programme also aims to screen people, educate about symptoms and empower them with information to promote early awareness and detection. Referrals will be made to appropriate clinics or hospitals for further investigation and medical care. The programme is to make use of trained volunteers to engage with communities on various platforms, including talks, events, exhibitions in public spaces, videos in health and clinic facilities, media interviews, social media and print media.
Siyabonga Dlamini from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, adds, “The overall goal of the MLCCP is to improve access to early diagnostic services for lung cancer by addressing the barriers of cancer care through working with communities and the Ministries of Health in the identified regions in four countries (South Africa, Kenya, Swaziland, and Tanzania), with a potential for scale-up. We’re excited to partner with CANSA in Phase Two of the programme. We need to positively influence attitudes towards lung cancer screening and improve lung cancer screening in risk groups.”
The main risk factor for lung cancer (internationally) is tobacco smoking. Lung cancer is more common among men. As more women have started smoking, the number of women developing lung cancer has been on the increase. However, while lung cancer is pervasive among smokers, it is not limited to them, as people who do not smoke can also develop lung cancer. Approximately 10–15% of people who get lung cancer have never smoked.
Other risk factors include the effects of past cancer treatment and exposure to asbestos, radon gas and – in very rare cases – substances such as uranium, chromium and nickel. Lung cancer is not infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.
Govender concludes, “Volunteers are being trained in February and will attend Palliative care training to be conducted by one of the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Foundation partners who is an ardent advocate of palliative care in South Africa. Certain sites in Durban and Pietermaritzburg have already been identified for the awareness and screening phase that will be rolled out in early March and will strictly adhere to the applicable COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions, as they may be revised from time-to-time.”
(For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email [email protected]. Call 011 616 7662 or mobile 082 459 5230.)
About CANSA
CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. CANSA is a leading role-player in cancer research and the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support. We offer a Tele Counselling service in seven languages free of charge. We also supply patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
Queries CANSA
Visit www.cansa.org.za or contact the nearest CANSA Care Centre, call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email: [email protected]. In addition to online resources and Facebook support groups, CANSA offers multi-lingual support on WhatsApp: 072 197 9305 for English and Afrikaans and 071 867 3530 for isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana and free Tele Counselling per appointment on 0800 22 66 22 in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana. Follow CANSA on Facebook:
CANSA The Cancer Association of South Africa, Twitter: @CANSA (http://www.twitter.com/CANSA), Instagram @cancerassociationofsouthafrica, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Published: 15 Feb 2021 | Last Updated: 15 Feb 2021
Categories: Advocacy, CANSA Research, Media Releases & News
» CANSA Participates in Lung Cancer Research with the University of KwaZulu-Natal | CANSA – The Cancer Association of South Africa
The programme also aims to screen people, educate about symptoms and empower them with information to promote early awareness and detection. Referrals will be made to appropriate clinics or hospitals for further investigation and medical care. The programme is to make use of trained volunteers to engage with communities on various platforms, including talks, events, exhibitions in public spaces, videos in health and clinic facilities, media interviews, social media and print media.
Siyabonga Dlamini from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, adds, “The overall goal of the MLCCP is to improve access to early diagnostic services for lung cancer by addressing the barriers of cancer care through working with communities and the Ministries of Health in the identified regions in four countries (South Africa, Kenya, Swaziland, and Tanzania), with a potential for scale-up. We’re excited to partner with CANSA in Phase Two of the programme. We need to positively influence attitudes towards lung cancer screening and improve lung cancer screening in risk groups.”
The main risk factor for lung cancer (internationally) is tobacco smoking. Lung cancer is more common among men. As more women have started smoking, the number of women developing lung cancer has been on the increase. However, while lung cancer is pervasive among smokers, it is not limited to them, as people who do not smoke can also develop lung cancer. Approximately 10–15% of people who get lung cancer have never smoked.
Other risk factors include the effects of past cancer treatment and exposure to asbestos, radon gas and – in very rare cases – substances such as uranium, chromium and nickel. Lung cancer is not infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.
Govender concludes, “Volunteers are being trained in February and will attend Palliative care training to be conducted by one of the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Foundation partners who is an ardent advocate of palliative care in South Africa. Certain sites in Durban and Pietermaritzburg have already been identified for the awareness and screening phase that will be rolled out in early March and will strictly adhere to the applicable COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions, as they may be revised from time-to-time.”
(For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email [email protected]. Call 011 616 7662 or mobile 082 459 5230.)
About CANSA
CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. CANSA is a leading role-player in cancer research and the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support. We offer a Tele Counselling service in seven languages free of charge. We also supply patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
Queries CANSA
Visit www.cansa.org.za or contact the nearest CANSA Care Centre, call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email: [email protected]. In addition to online resources and Facebook support groups, CANSA offers multi-lingual support on WhatsApp: 072 197 9305 for English and Afrikaans and 071 867 3530 for isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana and free Tele Counselling per appointment on 0800 22 66 22 in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana. Follow CANSA on Facebook:
CANSA The Cancer Association of South Africa, Twitter: @CANSA (http://www.twitter.com/CANSA), Instagram @cancerassociationofsouthafrica, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Published: 15 Feb 2021 | Last Updated: 15 Feb 2021
Categories: Advocacy, CANSA Research, Media Releases & News
» CANSA Participates in Lung Cancer Research with the University of KwaZulu-Natal | CANSA – The Cancer Association of South Africa
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