Public encouraged to get educated on Cancer

A wave of pink filled the grounds of Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital on Tuesday morning as Gauteng Department of Health in partnership with a health sector Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Pink Drive marked World Cancer Day with a hive of health awareness activities.

In a show of support residents participated in a 5km walk and pledged their support to raise cancer awareness.

Leading the walk was MEC for Health, Bandile Masuku together with Breast cancer survivor and popular actress Dr. Lillian Dube who shared words of encouragement with walkers from the side-lines of the walk.

MEC Masuku said: “It is important for everyone to raise their awareness of cancer as it is one of the biggest killers and it is one of the biggest burdens on our health system. “We all know that if Cancer is detected early it is manageable and can be cured if screened early.”

Patients and residents attending the event were educated about breast cancer awareness by health officials and the Pink Drive staff.

Some patients had already booked for their mammogram appointments.

Those that did not know what was happening were soon educated on how to self-examine their breasts and how they can look out of if they fear they might have cancer.

MEC Masuku said the Pink Drive was an important partner in the fight against breast cancer especially because as a mammogram, a procedure to screen for breast cancer was expensive.

On average a mammograms costs from R1 000 to R3 500 per examination and Pink Drive does it for free.

Pink Drive’s Founder and CEO, Noelene Kotschan encouraged all those in attendance to ensure they educate themselves on how to do self-examination as early detection saves lives.

Cancer survivor, Dr. Lillian Dube warned that cancer was not a women’s problem, but a societal problem which needs all of everyone to work together to create the awareness.

Dr Dube told the men at the clinic that they were the best people to detect breast cancer from their partners.

“Men are the first people who can detect breast cancer from their partners. As you cuddle and feel those breasts you can actually feel the lump and be the one to tell your partner to go and get checked at the clinic,” said Dube.

Source: Gauteng Province

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