www.worldcancerday.org

World Cancer Day is fast approaching this Saturday, 4 February 2012. It is the occassion to unite the world in the fight against the disease through raising awareness, educating the public, and lobbying for change.

It is only by every person, organisation, and government, individually doing their part, that the world will be able to reduce the global cancer burden.

So get involved and do something this World Cancer Day – because Together it is possible!

What you can do to mark World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is a truly global event, but to enable us to reach as much of the world’s population as possible, we need your help.

We appreciate that everyone supporting the Day has different needs and priorities, so to help focus your activities, we have identified three ‘levels’ of engagement which you may wish to undertake as you design your local 2012 World Cancer Day programme.

Please find an explanation of these engagement ‘levels’ below.

LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT

Level 1 – General public

You will be able to use the following activities to engage your network and the wider general public of your country on the burden of cancer, and in-turn raise the profile of World Cancer Day:
•Social media channels: Engage with your network via your Twitter / Facebook pages (global hashtags and key messages to share via social platforms are provided later in this toolkit).
•A special Facebook application will be launched on the 1.2.2012 for the occasion of World Cancer Day – be sure to use it and share it widely!
•Use the Cancer infographics: specially created for World Cancer Day 2012, these represent the global cancer burden in a visually engaging format (more information about these infographics can be found in the ‘Local activity guidance and toolkit overview‘ section of this document). Consider using these on your website and in member and media communications to support World Cancer Day.
•World Cancer Declaration: share the Declaration with your members, and other members of the public, and encourage them to sign-up on World Cancer Day.

Level 2 – General public / UICC member organisations and partners
•Add to the World Cancer Day online map of events and activities – Please share what you will be doing on / around World Cancer Day. The site is visited by media, individuals and organisations worldwide – therefore this is a great place to let the world know what you have planned – no matter how big or small.
•Engage with your corporate sponsors and other corporate or not-for-profit organisations in your country to encourage their support in World Cancer Day. They could help by organising fund raising activities on your behalf and/or by using World Cancer Day messaging in their internal and external communications mechanisms (newsletters, websites etc).
•Host a screening of ‘LIFE Before Death’: Members with a particular interest in palliative care and pain relief can support the Treat the Pain campaign by being part of a global film premiere series and hosting a screening of ‘LIFE Before Death’ – an award winning documentary film that raises awareness about inadequate access to palliative care and essential pain medicines. A special toolkit outlining ‘How to Host a Screening’ and ‘Presenter’s Notes’ is now available for download.

Level 3 – Advocacy push
•Lobby your national policy makers and Ministers of Health, to support the adoption of cancer control targets and indicators at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May 2012. Full details and support for these efforts will be provided in the UICC Advocacy toolkit.
For more information please visit the website www.worldcancerday.org

4 Feb Social meeting – get to know each other :14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

3 March CANSA Shavathon : Time and place to be confirmed

24 March Bottles of Hope Workshop : 9h00 – 11h30 : Westview Methodist Church – Wierda Park

7 April Distribution of Easter Eggs to those in hospital : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

5 May Dr Paradza – to be confirmed : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

2 June Dietician : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

9 June Bottles of Hope Workshop : 9h00 – 11h30 : Westview Methodist Church – Wierda Park

7 July Children’s cancer : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

4 Aug Men’s cancer : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

1 Sept Spring day – distribution of cupcakes to those in hospital : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

15 Sept Bottles of Hope Workshop : 9h00 – 11h30: Westview Methodist Church – Wierda Park

6 Oct Breast cancer – Dr Coccia-Portugal – to be confirmed : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

28 Oct Church service at Westview Methodist Church : Time to be confirmed

3 Nov Music / Art therapist – to be confirmed : 14h00 – 16h00 : Little Company of Mary Hosp Groenkloof

1 Dec Picnic at Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary ; Time and place to be confirmed

All of our monthly meetings take place on the first Saturday of the month from 14h00 to 16h00 at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Groenkloof – Mary Potter Oncology Conference Hall (enter into the hospital through the main entrance – turn immediately right and follow the pointers to our meeting).

Regards

PLWC Pretoria Committee

Cell : 078 727 1078

Smoking tobacco, using a hubbly bubbly pipe and smoking dagga (marijuana), puts young people at high risk of developing oral- and oro-pharyngeal cancers. This message was highlighted by the South African Dental Association (SADA) at a press briefing in Cape Town this week.

In the past, these types of cancer mostly occurred in adults over the age of 45, but in recent years, it has become increasingly prevalent in younger people between 20 and 30 years of age.

“While part of the explanation of this can be attributed to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the changing sexual behaviours of a younger generation where multiple partners and oral sex feature strongly, many other lifestyle practices also become significant in view of recent research results that indicate causal links between oral- and oro-pharyngeal cancer and cannabis and hubbly bubbly pipe smoking,” Maretha Smit, Chief Executive Officer of SADA said in a statement.

Cancer-causing HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual contact. The same type of HPV that causes cervical cancer is responsible for some oral and oro-pharyngeal cancers, and are transmitted to this region of the body through oral sex.

Link between dagga and cancer

Dagga has the same risk as any smoking tobacco in that it contains carcinogens that may cause cancer. In addition, research has also identified a link between dagga-use and HPV-related oral cancers.

Professor André van Zyl from the University of Pretoria explained that, other than regular tobacco smoke, dagga modifies the immune system, thereby causing HPV to spread easier during oral sex. Once it has spread, the cannabinoids will also promote the persistence of the HPV infection, as well as promoting tumour formation by suppressing those parts of the immune system required to protect against cancer.

In comparison to non-smokers it was found that dagga users had a more than four-fold increased risk of developing HPV-positive cancer.

“In South Africa, the use of cannabis among school-going children is on the increase. Coupled with changing sexual behaviours in the same groups and where oral sex features prominently, these trends will most like lead to increases in HPV oro-pharyngeal cancers in the next 10 to 20 years,” said Van Zyl.

Water pipe not innocent fun

Water-pipe smoking, locally known as the Hubbly Bubbly or Hookah pipe, is growing in popularity among school-going children and young people worldwide. Often with the full knowledge and approval of their parents who believe it to be innocent fun.

But that is not the case at all—water-pipe smoking is just as addictive, and even more dangerous than cigarette smoking. According to Van Zyl, the idea that the water in the Hubbly Bubbly filters out harmful substances is untrue, and smoke from the water pipe contains nicotine, tar and heavy metals and exposes the user to high levels of carbon monoxide.

What makes the water pipe even more dangerous is that the cooling effect from the water, combined with the fruity flavours of the tobacco, creates a soothing effect allowing smokers to inhale the smoke more deeply than regular tobacco smoke. The water pipe is also smoked in sessions of up to 45 minutes, therefore exposing the smoker to a lot more carbon monoxide than cigarette smoke. “Participants may inhale as much as the equivalent of 100 cigarettes,” said Van Zyl.

“The bottom-line message is that water-pipe smoking can deliver carcinogenic substances directly into the mouth and upper respiratory tract as well as the lungs,” said Van Zyl. “At the very least it is as dangerous as cigarette smoking while a further worrying aspect of the water pipe is that it exposes young people to the habit of smoking, increasing the risk of addiction. Also, because it is happening under the critical age of 16, these individuals are at enormous increased risk to suffer various cancers under the age of 45 years.”

There is the additional danger that the sharing of mouthpieces may spread other infectious agents such as herpes, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

Cancers associated with HPV, dagga and hubbly bubbly pipe smoking occurs mostly in young adults. “These young people could never imagine that they might develop oral cancer, and, it is therefore imperative that regular dental check-ups are conducted to ensure an early diagnosis of cancer in either the oral cavity or in the oro-pharyngeal area,” Van Zyl concluded.

Source: South African Dental Association (http://www.sada.co.za)

A substantial number of lung and colorectal cancer patients continue to smoke after being diagnosed with cancer, according to a new report published in CANCER.

The study provides valuable information on which cancer patients may need help to quit smoking.

According the study continuing smoking after a cancer diagnosis can negatively affect a patient’s response to treatment and possible recovery, and can ultimately raise their chance of death.

The study, led by Dr Elyse Park from Harvard Medical School in the United States, looked to see how many patients quit smoking around the time of their cancer diagnosis, and which smokers were most likely to quit. The researchers determined smoking rates around the time of diagnosis and five months after diagnosis in 5338 lung and colorectal cancer patients. Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer from uncontrolled cell growth in the colon, rectum, or appendix.

Substantial group

The research found that a substantial group of cancer patients continue to smoke. At the time of diagnosis, 39% of lung cancer patients and 14% of colorectal cancer patients were smoking. Five months later, 14% of lung cancer patients and 9% of colorectal cancer patients were still smoking. And although lung cancer patients generally have higher smoking rates, colorectal cancer patients were less likely to quit smoking after diagnosis.

Other shared characteristics between patients, apart from their types of cancer, were also identified to help physicians pinpoint the type of individuals more likely to continue smoking after diagnosis.

“These findings can help cancer clinicians identify patients who are at risk for smoking and guide tobacco counselling treatment development for cancer patients,” Dr Park said in a EurekAlert! report.

Source: EurekAlert!

19.01.2012

Aspirin should be evaluated for its ability to prevent the development of cervical cancer in HIV-infected women, says a new international report.

The report, published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, says this simple and inexpensive solution has the potential to provide enormous benefit for women in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, who suffer from a disproportionately high rate of cervical cancer death.

“These young patients – many of whom were mothers and the sole support for their families – had worked hard to have their HIV controlled with antiretroviral therapy, only to develop and die from cervical cancer,” said the study’s lead researcher, Dr Daniel Fitzgerald from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, US.

Research finding

The research, which was a collaboration between specialists in the US, Haiti and Qatar, discovered that HIV caused chronic inflammation in cervical tissue, which in turn is linked to cancer development in a number of tumour types, including cervical cancer.

Professor Lynette Denny from the University of Cape Town’s Department Obstetrics & Gynaecology explained that main reason for the high incidence of HPV-related disease (of which cervical cancer is one) in HIV-positive women is the immune compromised induced by HIV infection which depletes what is known as cell mediated immunity – precisely the type of immunity required to clear HPV infection.

This may help explain why HIV-positive women are five times more likely to develop invasive cervical cancer than HIV-negative women. It also suggests that inhibitors of the COX-2 molecule (which contributes to the production of PGE2 which elevates tumour formation) might break the link between HIV and cervical cancer. Aspirin is one of the cheapest and most effective COX inhibitors.

“Future studies will be needed to determine whether aspirin-like agents, known inhibitors of prostaglandin production, can reduce the risk of cervical cancer in this high-risk population,” said another senior author Dr Andrew Dannenberg, director of the Weill Cornell Cancer Centre at Weill Cornell Medical College.

“This is an interesting research angle but there is no data to support the use of anti-prostaglandins to prevent cervical cancer – although there is most likely to be a role,” said Professor Denny. She added that although the hypotheses have some validity, she will not recommend it to the public until it has been verified in large clinical trials.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among South African women, and 1 in every 35 women in the country will be affected by it in her lifetime. The high prevalence of cervical cancer is fuelled by the high burden of HIV/Aids among the South African population.

Sources: EurekAlert!, CANSA.org

Time : 18h00-19h30
Place : Oncology Centre Vincent Pallotti Hospital, Pinelands
Contact person : Linda Greeff
0219494060
0825513310

Date Topic Speaker

30 Jan Laughter is the best medicine

27 Feb General discussion getting on with living despite my cancer Linda Greeff

26 March Supportive and Palliative Care DR Jan Chris Grove

30 April Finding meaning in my cancer experience Peter Fox

28 May Tai chi for stress relief To be announced

25 June Clinical Trials and the Value it brings to Oncology care DR Corlia Coetzee

30 July New Developments Oncology treatment To be announced and Oncologist

27 August Supporting a Family member of Friend with cancer Clare Manicom (Oncology social worker)

24 Sept Have I made peace with dying ? What does it mean and should we talk about it ? How can we do it meaningfully .”No I ; that is negative I don’t want to talk about it, leave me alone “ Linda Greeff general discussion

29 October Creativity and Quality of life To be announced

26 Nov Festive Program
Evaluation of year program and planning

LDOC – Support group/ info meetings for 2012

10h00 – 11h30 in LDOC Boardroom
Address : Langenhoven Oncology unit in PE
Contact Mariana Lourens / Debbie Swartz 041 3630581

8/2 : What is cancer? Different treatment options

7/3 : Managing cancer treatment

11/4: Emotional impact of cancer

9/5: What about diet, supplements, alternative treatments?

13/6 : What is cancer? Different treatment options

11/7 : Managing cancer treatment

1/8: Emotional impact of cancer

12/9 What about diet, supplements, alternative treatments?

10/10 : What is cancer? Different treatment options

7/11 : Managing cancer treatment , diet

5/12: Emotional impact of cancer

GVI Cancer Support Group – Panorama

Evening Support Group:
Panorama Hospital – Second floor: 17h30- 19h00
Emerentia Esterhuyse Tel – 021-944 3850

Specially inviting pt.’s with these cancers to give their testimonies and help others.
The buddies can be very helpful in this regards.

7 Feb.- Talking about breast cancer

13 March- Talking about prostate cancer

10 April-Creative Wellness talking about home care

8 May- Talking about lung cancer

12 June- Talking about colon cancer

14 Aug-Video- testimonies on managing cancer

11 Sept- Talking about melanoma

9 Oct-Dietician visiting the group

13 Nov-Reflecting on the year

Morning Support Group:
Panorama Oncology Centre – boardroom-10h00-12h00
Patient and family currently on treatment

23 Feb.- Stress

15 March- Talking about children and how they manage with their parents cancer

19 April- Radiographer talking about radiation and side-effects

17 May- Talking about managing the workplace and cancer

14 June- Chemo nurse Talking about chemo and the side-effects

16 Aug- Talking about self-image

20 Sept- Talking about sexuality and cancer

18 Oct.- What happens after cancer

22 November- Dietician visiting the group

Contact No : 021-944 3800

GVI Oncology Support Group Cape Gate

CAPE GATE MONTHLY PATIENT SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS – FEB 2012 – DEC 2012

10h00 – 12h00 in the Boardroom at the Cape Gate Oncology Centre

Contact Person : Caron Majewski Oncology Social worker 021 9443800

DATE TOPIC SPEAKER
2nd Feb
Cancer and Losses Caron & Pt testimonies

1st March
Family & Friends in our Lives Clare Manicom

12th April
Hope as Resource & Coping strategy Linda Greeff

3rd May
Creativity & Coping Madre Fraenkel & Emma Venter (OT’s)

7th June
Balanced Living (nutrition,diet,exercise) Dr. Tina Malan

5th July
New Drug Developments Dr. Corlia Coetzee

2nd August
Supportive & Palliative Care Sr. Deniese – Tygerberg Hospice

6th September
Cancer and my Children-how do they manage? Patient testimonies/Play therapist

4th October
Chemo & Radiation managing side-effects Chemo Sister / Radiographer

1st November
End of treatment-what now? Patient testimonies

6th December
Reflection on the year & staying focused Motivational speaker (if possible)

If you wish to receive additional news of our Johannesburg CanSurvive Support Group meetings, please send us an email.

If you would rather not receive the newsletter, please send an email to jhb@plwc.org.za with the word “Unsubscribe” in the subject line, and your name will be removed from our mailing list.

Best wishes, Chris Olivier, Editor Phone: 083 640 4949 Email: jhb@plwc.org.za

The first Cape Town Support Group Meeting for 2012 at Vincent Pallotti Hospital will be a Laughter Session!

A Laughter Session consists of Laughing, Clapping, Breathing and Stretching exercises.