In celebration of Cancer Survivors Month, CANSA is calling on survivors to participate in their ‘Bring Hope | Inspire’ campaign. By downloading a poster, adding a personal message, and sharing it on social media, survivors can spread hope and inspiration to others still battling cancer.
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“Cancer survivorship is not only about living beyond diagnosis and treatment. It’s also about survivors being enabled to live with dignity and hope, practical help and emotional care through every stage of their cancer experience,” says Lisa Strydom, National Manager: Care and Support for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).
As June rolls in, the world observes International Cancer Survivors Month, an occasion to celebrate the lives that have been touched by cancer here in South Africa. This month serves as a vital reminder of the emotional, physical, financial, and practical realities that continue long after a cancer diagnosis and treatment have concluded. For many, the battle is more than a moment of crisis; it extends into an ongoing journey of recovery and adaptation.
As CANSA proudly marks its 95th anniversary, the organisation is keen to shift the focus from background awareness to the lived experience of cancer survivors. “We also want to remind South Africans that we provide support before, during and after treatment,” Strydom adds.
For survivors, the end of active treatment does not necessarily signal the cessation of cancer’s impact. They may contend with lingering issues such as fatigue, anxiety, fear of recurrence, relationship strains, financial challenges, workplace difficulties, long-term side-effects, and the emotional scars left by facing a life-threatening illness. Recognising these difficulties is essential, as Strydom emphasises, “People often assume that once treatment ends, life simply goes back to normal. For many survivors, that is not the case.”
Long-term cancer survivors often navigate a complex web of challenges affecting their confidence, sense of identity, family dynamics, work performance, financial stability, and overall emotional wellbeing. “Survivors need information, connection, and support, not only during treatment but also as they rebuild their lives afterwards,” stresses Strydom.
For nearly a century, CANSA has stood by South Africans impacted by cancer, offering comprehensive support that encapsulates research, education, advocacy, and care. Their dedicated efforts span the entire cancer experience, ensuring that individuals receive support not just for risk reduction and early detection, but also as they encounter diagnosis, treatment, and the realities of survivorship.
CANSA’s mission extends beyond mere awareness campaigns and screening services, although these remain crucial components of their work. The organisation provides psychosocial, practical, and emotional support that can significantly enhance the lives of survivors and their families navigating the aftermath of a diagnosis.
This extensive support network includes telephonic counselling, virtual support groups, accessible information desks located in public hospitals, stoma support, wigs and prostheses, equipment loans, guidance on home-based care, educational resources, affordable cancer screenings, and advocacy for individuals facing barriers to necessary care or treatment delays.
“Surviving cancer is not a single moment, but an ongoing experience that can include recovery, adjustment, renewed hope, and, for some, recurrence or palliative care,” Strydom explains.
In celebration of Cancer Survivors Month, CANSA invites survivors to participate in their ‘Bring Hope | Inspire’ campaign. By downloading a poster, adding a personal message, and sharing it on social media, survivors can spread hope and inspiration to others still battling cancer, whether they are undergoing treatment or adjusting to life post-diagnosis.
“Every message shared by a survivor has the power to encourage someone else,” Strydom affirms. “This Cancer Survivors’ Month, we want survivors to know that their experience matters, their voices matter, and they don’t have to face life beyond cancer alone. CANSA is here to support, inform, and walk alongside them through every stage they go through.”
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