Eastern Cape enters stem cell age.

General Wards Nurses Station

The Eastern Cape has entered the stem cell age with the opening of the province’s first specialist haematology treatment unit.

“Stem cell treatment is the future of medicine. Pioneering work is being done on using stem cells to treat all types of disease,” says Dr Neil Littleton, head of Department of Clinical Haematology at the Provincial Hospital.

He carried out the first haematological stem cell transplant in the Eastern Cape in May 2010.

Stem cells are now separated out in the Eastern Cape by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) in Port Elizabeth.

Cells for transplant are harvested from the patient themselves through what is known as an autologous process.

With the opening of the province’s first comprehensive haematology treatment unit, the number of transplants is expected to increase.

General Ward One

Patients need to be kept in strict isolation during the transplant process in order to protect them from infection.

The new unit has six isolation wards. They have DSTV and Internet access in order to help patients keep in touch with the outside world while isolated for a month or more.

Other facilities in the R20-million facility on the seventh floor of the M Block in the Port Elizabeth General Hospital include a general male ward, a general female ward, a day ward, a chemotherapy room, and doctors’ offices.

It is the result of two years of lobbying and facilitation by the Igazi Foundation, which was founded because the province suffers from one of the highest incidences of blood cancer in the country.

“Igazi considers this to be phase one. The sixth floor of the building is available, and we are sourcing funding for a haemophilia clinic, bigger outpatients, and more offices for doctors,” says Cole Cameron of the Igazi Foundation.

Accommodation and support for patients from outside of Port Elizabeth will be provided by the Igazi Foundation as a complementary service in the future.

“We hope to serve as a model for the opening of haematology wards around the country, and also as a way in which the private and public sectors can work together to provide medical care,” says Dr Littleton.

Strong interest has already been shown by hospitals nationally and internationally. A delegation from the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, are attending the official opening of the unit.

Doctors Suite Entrance

The establishment of the Igazi Foundation in Nelson Mandela Bay grew out of the need to highlight the high incidence of blood diseases in the Eastern Cape, and has sparked a research project into the causes of blood cancer in the province.

“While we can now treat haematological diseases in the Eastern Cape, the ultimate objective is to identify and deal with the causes,” says Littleton.

The Igazi Foundation will be continuing with its haematological outreach clinic into the rest of the Eastern Cape in order to raise awareness and will shortly begin a Haemophilia educational programme whilst liaising with national and international role-players.

Ends

Media Release for the Igazi Foundation

By: Siyathetha Communications

Contact: Igazi: Cole Cameron: 084 444 0400

Siyathetha: Maureen Dalzell: 041 5823750/ 083 4535775

Peter Fox facilitated a very moving and informative Support Group Meeting in Cape Town on Monday night, 7 May.

Here is Linda Greeff’s feedback -

Dear All,

Some Reflections of our Cancer Buddy group last night  !!

I want to take the time to thank Peter Fox from St Luke’s Hospice Spiritual caring team and his team for the sharing and   compassionate intervention last night in our PLWC support group. We were 12 members ( cancer survivors and caregivers ).

To me the most important factor was the sensitivity and  empathy levels of this team and the respect with which Peter Fox and his team entered into the group  …..what an experience .!!!

Our theme was creating meaning amidst the cancer experience and it was so special to hear the stories of other patients in this regard which Peter shared with us as a group .

The stories of Trish , Kit and others highlighted so many important  ideas and opened us all up to spend more time pondering  what this meaning making is for each of us as an individual.

Peter, please thank the patients that shared their stories with you to share with us.

I want to highlight a few themes that were  opened up as a taster to all and to showcase the importance of such intervention.

Thoughts to ponder and  left us all thinking :

• The importance of silence and the value it has for  healing
• about living to leave a legacy and to  be a model for children and others
• the value of celebrations
• paying back practices
• the power of  a deep spiritual connection to God and the strength that comes from this
• The continuous stress on oneself to be perfect and the importance of just being  a bit more gentle  with oneself
• Making time for healing and self care
• The reprioritising of life that happens  when diagnosed with cancer and not wanting to go back to the old self  but also the struggle of staying in the new self mode with awareness
• To keep remembering to appreciate the small things and  not to get trapped in the rat race again !!
• The  fact that material things become less important  and relationships become  the core of what we need
• Learning to live the good and the not so good days equally
• The down days make it hard to commit to healthy option but the consistent  drive to  do the best you can is   hard at times !!
• The importance of sharing stories was highlighted again and the   level of  awareness that comes when we open our hearts to these stories

Thank you to all for making this  possible and it is a  joy to know we have such special people in  our community that care and reach out to people in need.

I honour you all and am grateful for your  sharing !!

Warm Buddy hugs

Linda

ALBIE

Saam het ons gelag en staaltjies vertel oor ons kaalkoppe. Rate is uitgeruil oor geswolle brand voete wat afdop en seer slymvliese na chemoterapie.

Saam het ons gehuil oor slegte nuus en weer ons koppe opgetel en die lewe omarm.

Menigte aande het ons saam gebid oor die telefoon voor skanderings en bloedtoetse!

Ons kankerpad was ‘n genadepad het ons besluit en albei besef hoe kosbaar die lewe is en hoe goed God is.

Vele van my platgeslaande nuut gediagnoseerde borskanker pasiente het nadat jy met hulle gepraat het, weer moed geskep en hul kankerpaadjie positief betree!

Met my eerste kanker survivor dag het ons saam geel helium balonne die lug ingestuur. Die lug was helder blou op die koue wintersdag en die geel balonne het hoog die lug ingetrek met ons elkeen se boodskappie daaraan vas. Ek onthou nog my boodskap: I am not in the icy grip of a disease called cancer, but in the loving hands of God.

Gawie het net sy kop geskud wanneer ons twee gespot het dat nie eers kanker ons kan maer kry nie!

My eerste Cansa Relay for survivors het ek verlede Sept saam met jou en die Buddies gestap op: You are the champions. Ek onthou die hoendervleis die emosie wat opwel….

Ons het saam getreur oor kanker buddies wat ons vooruit is.

Ons liefde vir God, vir mense, vir mooi musiek, die teater, die natuur en die lewe het ons gedeel.

Met die opvoering Dinsdae met Jorrie het ons klomp so gehuil dat die dramaturg Chris van Niekerk  agterna in die restaurant langs die Centurion teater saam met ons kom sit en kuier het en vertel het hoe ons meelewendheid hom aangedaan gemaak het.

As Rotariers het ek en jy verlede jaar ’n wentafel vir ‘n fondsinsameling gedoen: Summertime met ‘n helder son, sonsambreel, seesand met vissies en skulpies en ons en die gaste in ons baaikostuums en serongs!

Wanneer ons saam was het ons baie gelag! Ons het soveel pret saam gehad! Vir my was jy altyd ‘n tonikum!

Met my 50ste verjaarsdag het jy saam met my en die Big 5 my verjaarsdagkersies help uitblaas. Hoe harder ons twee geblaas het hoe hoer het die vlamme gestaan. Jy het jou arm om my skouer gesit en met rooi wange gese: Verdomp vriendin hierdie vlamme is nes ek en jy, niks kry ons uitgeblaas nie!

Albie, jou aardse vlammetjie is nou uitgeblaas, maar jou vlam van menslike warmte, opregtheid en positiwiteit sal altyd in my en al die Kanker Buddies se harte brand.

Ons dank God vir jou Albie – Wilma Lotter

  When you walked into a room – everyone   would laugh, be happy, be positive and have great respect for you.  We are going to miss you at the Buddy meetings as you were always encouraging no matter how your illness affected you.  Good bye my friend and RIP – Jean   Robinson

  Albie mater! Jy is so ‘n spesiale mens gewees en het oral lewens aangeraak. Nooit was dit vir   jou moeite om te glimlag al was party dae baie swaar en seer. Jy gaan   geweldig gemis word maar daar aan Jesus se voete is geen pyn. Rus sag vriendin. Xxx Monica Pieterse

  “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” – Danie and Marinda Foster

  “Friends are the family we chose for ourselves” – Baie dankie dat jy my soos “famile” laat voel

Dit was ‘n briefie wat Albie my gegee het. Ek weet sy het baie vriende so laat voel!   Albie my vriendin. Dankie vir ure se   saamkuier , dat ek jou klankbord kon wees .Dat ons saam kon lag oor die dwarsklappe van die lewe. Jy was so uniek – Liefde – Christa du Toit

Cancer and its treatment may affect a person’s ability to conceive a child in the future. In these two “Moving Forward” videos from American Society of Clinical Oncology and the LIVESTRONG, get perspectives on fertility and cancer from oncology experts and young adult survivors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CB9WoXbXtr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_uwfwIRMUA&feature=player_embedded#t=0s

Cancer and cancer treatments can cause infertility in young adults. LIVESTRONG offers resources for people facing treatment in their childbearing years. These resources include:

• Fertility Preservation Information
• Assistance Understanding risks and options related to cancer treatment and fertility
• Accessing discounted rates for fertility preservation through the Sharing Hope Program
• Finding local fertility related resources

Have questions about fertility and cancer? Call LIVESTRONG at 1-855-220-7777 or go online to request assistance.

Above are two great videos produced by LIVESTRONG and ASCO about cancer and fertility. One is from the perspective of a cancer survivor and the other is from a healthcare professional.

Please visit their website – http://www.firstdescents.org/

Ismail Fife

CanSir, an Associate of PLWC, is doing great work  in under privileged communities  in providing cancer awareness talks . We are proud of the team doing this work. Thank you Ismail and Team !!!

Ismail’s report on the recent awareness campaign aimed at Cape Town schools -

Attached please find the stats for our 20 Schools campaign which I am sure you will find very interesting.

Although we did not meet our target of 20 schools, we did exceed our expectation of 10. In the end we went to 15 schools and ended the campaign this past Sunday with the UWC Outreach Program, headed by David Scott.

The final numbers for the Outreach have not yet been completed but an estimate of 66 was tabled with the final number to be ratified soon.

This meant that the 20 Schools campaign was a massive success, with 1163 students being educated and made aware of cancer, in particular, Testicular Cancer.

This went far beyond our expectations and with this in mind, and with the right sort of sponsorship, we want to make it even bigger next year.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all who played such a massive role by standing by me, encouraging me and supporting me with this initiative and in making this such huge success not just for Can-Sir but for us all.

This is Raynolda’s report -

The talk went very well –  there were  90+ people and I was given time from 8H45-10H00 and that gave me enough time  to open for questions.  I even  managed to have a 1 on 1 session. I will be doing another talk this  Thursday at the same clinic.

My topic today was” Early detection saves lives” and ” The importance of a support group”.  I spoke more about shy cancers according to the pamphlets.

I had a chat after the talk with Sister Jose Monamodi (Sister in charge) who is also a cervical cancer survivor who assured  me that we can start a support group.

Her contact number is: 082 5881182  and the name of the clinic is Odirile Maponya-Kid Maponya is one of the schools I went to do  trauma counselling.

We both agreed that there is a great need for one. She said 2 weeks ago  people came to her about a  gentleman who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer;  and some ladies with female cancers  were asking her there was a  support group around and she said there was none.

We agreed about starting a support group in April and she going to have a meeting and come back to me with the date.

They showed me the place which we will be using and I will request Peter and team to be present.

I will be using more pamphlets/flyers and will be needing more if possible.

Tomorrow I will be joining the Chris Hani buddies as  they requested that I should join them.