South Africa loses 60000 people to cancer every year and 100000 are diagnosed with the disease annually.So said Michelle Goddard, Eastern Cape sustainability manager for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa).
World Cancer Day was observed on Thursday under the theme: “We can. I can” which urged people to take a pledge to fight cancer.
Goddard said Cansa was focused on prevention, risk-reducing behaviour and early detection.
She said individuals could act as campaign advocates through their lifestyles, in their homes, school, work places and communities.
Everyone could do something to help fight the disease, she said.
This year the organisation starts a three-year campaign around World Cancer Day.
“The three-year campaign explores 20 actions that can save lives, achieve greater equity in cancer care and make fighting cancer a priority at the highest political levels,” said Goddard.
They include inspiring others, making healthy lifestyle choices, speaking out, sharing stories, challenging perceptions and creating healthy environments.
Cansa has partnered with GVI, a private oncology practice in East London, to influence and educate people.
On Thursday they encouraged companies and individuals to e-mail photos of how they created awareness or how they were bettering their lifestyles.
GVI and Cansa will send campaign participants monthly e-mails full of tips on what can be done to reduce or fight the disease.
Professor Vikash Sewram, director of the African Cancer Institute at Stellenbosch University, said the most common cancers among males were prostate, lung and colorectal, while women suffered most from breast, cervical and colorectal cancers.
He said 8.2-million people worldwide died from cancer every year, of which nearly half died between the ages of 30 and 69. The majority of deaths were in low and middle-income countries.
Like Goddard, Sewram emphasised healthy lifestyle choices.
“It is important to note that about 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioural and dietary risks: high body mass index; low fruit and vegetable intake; lack of physical activity; tobacco use; and alcohol use.
“Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to these common risk factors,” said Sewram. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Together cancer can be overcome
So said Michelle Goddard, Eastern Cape sustainability manager for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa).
World Cancer Day was observed on Thursday under the theme: “We can. I can” which urged people to take a pledge to fight cancer.
Goddard said Cansa was focused on prevention, risk-reducing behaviour and early detection.
She said individuals could act as campaign advocates through their lifestyles, in their homes, school, work places and communities.
Everyone could do something to help fight the disease, she said.
This year the organisation starts a three-year campaign around World Cancer Day.
“The three-year campaign explores 20 actions that can save lives, achieve greater equity in cancer care and make fighting cancer a priority at the highest political levels,” said Goddard.
They include inspiring others, making healthy lifestyle choices, speaking out, sharing stories, challenging perceptions and creating healthy environments.
Cansa has partnered with GVI, a private oncology practice in East London, to influence and educate people.
On Thursday they encouraged companies and individuals to e-mail photos of how they created awareness or how they were bettering their lifestyles.
GVI and Cansa will send campaign participants monthly e-mails full of tips on what can be done to reduce or fight the disease.
Professor Vikash Sewram, director of the African Cancer Institute at Stellenbosch University, said the most common cancers among males were prostate, lung and colorectal, while women suffered most from breast, cervical and colorectal cancers.
He said 8.2-million people worldwide died from cancer every year, of which nearly half died between the ages of 30 and 69. The majority of deaths were in low and middle-income countries.
Like Goddard, Sewram emphasised healthy lifestyle choices.
“It is important to note that about 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioural and dietary risks: high body mass index; low fruit and vegetable intake; lack of physical activity; tobacco use; and alcohol use.
“Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to these common risk factors,” said Sewram. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
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