BLOEMFOTNEIN – A group of approximately 30 breast cancer patients at the Pelonomi Regional Hospital in Bloemfontein received heart-shaped pillows, courtesy of the non-profit organisation Early Detection Saves Lives. This gesture of goodwill coincided with World Cancer Day, globally marked on 4 February.
The organisation teamed up with the Bloemfontein Community Corrections and Grootvlei Medium B Correctional Centre supported the initiative. Such efforts continues to intensify awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment.
The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day was “United by Unique,” implying that cancer can affect anyone and that there are real people behind the statistics.
“Cancers found early are much more likely to be successfully treated, with some having near to 99% five-year survival rates. Early detection often enables more conservative, less invasive treatments than the complex, systemic treatments needed for advanced cancer,” said Mmanoko Maduane of Medipost Pharmacy.
“This is why regular screening is especially valuable for minimising risk of cancer and the potential for it to impact our lives, and those of our loved ones.”
Members of the public are encouraged to undergo screening, which is especially important for certain types of cancer, as some types can be detected before the person starts experiencing any symptoms.
“Some recommended common cancer screenings – for example, Pap smears or colonoscopies – are capable of identifying precancerous changes to cells,” Maduane explained.
