Ready, Set, Screen!

#EarlyDetection #WomensHealth #LowerCancerRisk

CANSA acknowledges the collective power of women to achieve positive change and calls on women to unite around the importance of cancer screening for themselves and other women, to help prevent unnecessary loss of life.

Too many women still die of cancer, because they aren’t encouraged to know their own bodies, be aware of the symptoms of cancer, take advantage of cancer screening, or understand how to lower their personal cancer risk.

Did You Know?

• According to statistics from the National Cancer Registry (NCR) 2017, the top five cancers affecting women in SA include: breast, cervical, colorectal, uterine and lung cancer.
• Both breast and cervical cancer have been identified as a national priority with increasing incidences occurring.
• Apart from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all races, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 25 in South Africa, according to the 2017 National Cancer Registry (NCR).
• Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer among South African women, but the cancer that women die of most. Women have a 1 in 40 lifetime risk of cervical cancer (NCR 2017).

CANSA encourages women to arrange for cancer screening at their local CANSA Care Centre and purchase a screening voucher * for a loved one, friend or employee.

Is there a woman in your life who doesn’t know about the importance of screening or can’t afford it?

Buy her a screening voucher * and share your knowledge.

COVID-19 has also caused women who are aware of the importance of cancer screening to put it off, to avoid busy healthcare facilities. However, cancer remains a reality and early detection through screening can save lives.

It’s not necessary to delay cancer screening due to COVID-19. CANSA offers screening through its CANSA Care Centres by appointment to avoid crowding and with strict safety protocols in place to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Screenings available to women include:

• Clinical Breast Examinations (to detect breast lumps);
• Pap Smears (liquid based cervical cancer screening test for early diagnosis);
• FotoFinder examinations (mole mapping dermoscope device to examine moles and spots on skin)
• A Faecal occult home testing kit (to help indicate a growth / inflammation / bleeding in digestive system, possibly indicating colorectal cancer).

An affordable small fee is charged to assist with the cost of the equipment needed to conduct the screening. Medical aid patients can submit a claim to their medical aid once they have paid for the screening.

Top Tips for Women:

• Know Your Body – Be aware of any changes to your body and do regular self-examinations: breast | skin – report changes to a medical health practitioner.
• Know Signs of Cancer – Read more about the symptoms of cancers affecting women in SA on the CANSA Website.
• Regular Cancer Screening – Make an appointment at your local CANSA Care Centre for cancer screening on an annual basis, or if you are concerned about a symptom you are experiencing or make use of the public healthcare system.
• Share Your Knowledge – Empower other women by sharing the knowledge you have gained about cancer, screening and lowering cancer risk. Buy another woman a cancer screening voucher.

Public Healthcare Screening

Women are entitled to an annual clinical breast examination when visiting primary health care centres (according to the National Department of Health’s Breast Cancer Control Policy) and according to the National Department of Health’s Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Policy women aged 30 years and older are able to have three Pap smears in their lifetime at 30, 40 and 50 at public health clinics at no cost (non -symptomatic).

If women experience abnormal symptoms, they can request a Pap smear at local government clinics.

HIV positive women are eligible for a Pap smear at diagnosis and every three years thereafter if negative for cervical cancer (yearly if screening is positive).

*CANSA screening vouchers valid until 31 October 2021