International World Cancer Day on February 4 is aimed at raising awareness about the disease and encouraging prevention, detection, and treatment.
The World Cancer Day slogan, Closing the gap in cancer care, is aimed at encouraging people to get screened, for earlier detection and better health and treatment outcomes.
Dr. Sanele Kunene, of Cancer Care East London, said: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more people have been getting tested and getting CT scans thus leading to more positive diagnoses of lung cancer.
“We encourage regular screening, which can be accessed through public and private NGOs and institutions such as Cansa.
“Some of these include breast examinations for patients over the age of 40, pap smears to screen for cancer of the cervix, particularly for females who are sexually active, and prostate-specific antigen blood tests for men above age 40, among others,” said Dr. Kunene.
He also highlighted some of the more prevalent cancers.
“Prostate cancer is a big problem for men, as well as cancer of the cervix for women,“ he said.
“We have also seen a high incidence of lung cancer as of late.
“It is very important that you are familiar with your family history if you have a strong family history of cancer or a known genetic mutation so that early detection becomes possible and treatment can be administrated,” urged Dr. Kunene.
A cancer awareness event will be held on Saturday, February 18, at Hams Club, and all proceeds raised will be donated to local cancer organizations.
