SMART CHOICE CANCER SMART PEOPLE ALWAYS MAKE SMART CHOICES REMENDENTIA INTERIM HOME OPENED!

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1 EDITION 2 - DECEMBER 2007 CANSA NORTH WEST& LIMPOPO SMART CHOICE CANCER SMART PEOPLE ALWAYS MAKE SMART CHOICES REMENDENTIA INTERIM HOME OPENED! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: CANSA TEAM TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO HUNTING FOR CANSA SUNSCREEN AND SKIN TYPES THANKYOU ABSA! STER VROU VAN BLOEMHOF PASOP VIR DIE SON MESSAGE FROM THE PROVIN- CIAL MANAGER It was with great pride that CANSA Rustenburg officially opened the doors to the Remendentia Interim Home on the 2 nd November With various guests, donors, CANSA volunteers and staff present the Mayoress, Mrs Lillian Clara Wolmarans, officially unveiled the Remendentia Interim Home plaque. We are in the business of HOPE. It is in spreading hope and support that we at the Cancer Association of South Africa want to help people win the fight against cancer. These words by Gerda Strauss (CANSA North West and Limpopo Provincial Manager) at the opening ceremony touched the hearts of all involved. The Remendentia Interim Home is a home away from home for patients undergoing radiotherapy at the local treatment facility. The dream of a cancer treatment facility started in the late 1990 s. We were far ahead of the time and had to wait until 2006 to see the completed result of CANSA s and my personal dream a treatment facility in our town. The oncology unit is situated at the Medical Centre next to Peglerae Life Hospital. As part of CANSA operational policy we have interim homes / overnight accommodation for patients coming for treatment in all provinces alongside cancer treatment facilities. Mrs Strauss said. Planning for the Remendentia Interim Home started in the middle of 2006 and with the seeding money from the Rustenburg Relay For Life as a kick start, everything went from strength to strength. Through all the support and contributions in the process of establishing Remendentia, it has once again become evident that people who are part of a team and share a common direction, get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are travelling on the trust of one another and lift each other up along the way. Thank you for being our wings. Adelé Voges, CANSA Regional Manager said in her speech thanking who worked so hard on the project. In modern medicine, there are new ways to detect and treat many forms of cancer that once were considered untreatable, Mrs Strauss concluded. Photo courtesy of Rustenburg Herald. RELAY FOR LIFE - POTCHEFSTROOM LAUNCHED Relay For Life in Potchefstroom was launched at a very heart warming ceremony recently. The committee was introduced by the staff partner, Sr. Frances Minné and the Relay For Life key was handed over to the Event Chair, Adéle Geyser and the committee. This was followed by truly inspiring survivor stories by committee members, Adéle Myburgh and Buks, testifying that there is always HOPE. The committee lit the Luminaria candles while one of the performers sang Light your candle. Guests were entertained by wonderful performances by a local gospel group Trés Animé. Relay For Life Potchefstroom will take place on 15 and 16 March 2008 at the North West Sport Ground, the Fanie Du Toit rugby field. Adéle Geyser can be contacted on for more information.

2 SMART CHOICE P a g e 2 CANSA TEAM TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO! will climb to the highest peak, Uhuru, using the Machame route the climb will start on 18 th January 2008 at 08:00. Financial help and sponsorship is required from members of the public to make the Mount Kili project a success. Any gifts may be deposited directly into the CANSA bank account: The CANSA Kili Team will be climbing the mountain to celebrate cancer Survivors and to raise awareness around this disease. To top it all, these CANSA mountaineers further plan to raise much needed funds for the organisation, as well as achieving the strenuous task of raising the CANSA flag at the top of the mountain! CANSA North West and Limpopo s Audrey David will be the leader of the project. Qualified climbers, Mr. Pieter and Mrs. Marinda J van Rensburg, Mr. Ampie Abrie and Ms Annemarie Findlay will complete the team and take part in the expedition. Responsible project facilitation and planning is in place. As far as logistical planning in Tanzania is concerned, it is truly only a matter of raising the money to get the team there, and then to get these climbers to climb successfully to get to raising the CANSA flag on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro! The team ABSA Bank: Boom Street Branch Code: 632 /005 Account number: Type: Cheque account Kindly use the reference: Kili upon deposits made towards the project. Communication referring to the project must please be forwarded to the Provincial Manager, Mrs. Gerda Strauss, CANSA NW/ Limpopo, PO Box 20060, Protea Park, 0305 and telephone Should any member of the public wish to contact Audrey David directly, please do so per cell Be assured that members of the project team will issue an official CANSA receipt on receiving any money towards the project. In the meantime, best wishes to Audrey and her team, we are proud of you!! CANSA RUSTENBURG SUNSMART AT THE LOST CITY CANSA Rustenburg visited the Lost City for the People s / Mense Magazine Jive 2007 on the 26 th October The theme for the day was The-fun-in-the-sun and Hosiame Sebalo (CANSA Health Programmes Coordinator) delivered a public talk on how to be safe in the sun. A spray-a-thon was also included in the day s activities and the event was enjoyed immensely by everybody that attended. CANSA Rustenburg will be a regular feature on the programme at the Valley of the Waves. Toktokkie recently visited the children of The Garden of Children Nursery School in Brits. To arrange for Toktokkie to come and visit your school please contact your local CANSA office. Mr Gideon Kruger bought this signed Blue Bulls rugby jersey at an auction at the CANSA Ellisras Men s Evening. HUNTING FOR CANSA CANSA Vryburg will be holding a Hunters raffle until June 2008, with great prizes up for grabs: 1 st prize Gemsbok 2 nd prize Rooibok 3 rd prize Springbuck Tickets are available at CANSA Vryburg offices at R each. Volunteers are needed to sell tickets with a cell phone and a printer, as well as other prizes, to be won by those selling the most tickets. It is almost school holidays again and this is the perfect opportunity for children to join the fight against cancer and to win prizes too! Carita Bouwer can be contacted on for further information. These pupils of the Logagane Primary School recently took part in CANSA Mafikeng s Breast Cancer Walk, despite their own poor living conditions.

3 EDITION 2 - DECEMBER 2007 P a g e 3 DO I NEED SUNSCREEN IF I HAVE A DARK SKIN? Everybody should wear sunscreen: Although people with a dark skin may not sunburn as easily as those with a fair skin, they are still at risk from excessive sun exposure. The Cancer Association of South Africa recommends routine use of a broad spectrum sunscreen protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater for all people, regardless of the colour of the skin. Skin colour is determined by the number, distribution and type of pigment producing cells (melanocytes) in the skin. Dermatologists refer to the degrees of pigmentation in the skin as skin types which range from very little pigment (type 1) to very dark pigmented (type 6). It is true that dark skin provides some protection against sun damage and people with light skin types have a much higher incidence of skin cancer than do people with dark skin Classifications of skin types types. But dark skin is not a guarantee against skin cancer. People with dark skin, hair and eyes can and do get skin cancer. Particularly vulnerable areas are under the fingernails and toenails, on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet, where the skin is lighter. Like those with light skin, people with dark skin are also at risk of premature skin aging from excessive exposure to the sun. This includes wrinkles and mottled or uneven skin pigment. Regardless of your skin type, it is important to protect your skin against the sun by limiting sun exposure and wearing sunscreen and sun-protective clothing when outside. People with dark skin, hair and eyes can and do get skin cancer Skin type Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 Description Always burns, never tans (pale white skin) Always burns easily, tans minimally (white skin) Burns moderately, tans uniformly (Light brown skin) Burns minimally, always tans well (Moderate brown skin) Rarely burns, tans profusely (dark brown skin) Never burns (deeply pigmented dark brown to black skin) COPING WITH CANCER DURING THE HOLIDAYS Generally people view the holidays as a time to celebrate, rejoice and renew connections with family and friends. However, the season can be a stressful time if you are coping with cancer and you may have complex feelings, both sad and happy. It s important to embrace the joy and happiness of the holidays enjoying favourite meals, giving and receiving gifts, reuniting with family and friends, and celebrating religious traditions. People with cancer and their loved ones can sometimes feel out of step from the rest of the world. Sharing feelings with the people you love and who love you can help you feel more connected. Tips for coping with cancer during the holidays: Plan to get together with friends, family or co-workers over the holidays. Trying to celebrate alone can be very difficult, so accept some invitations from others. Find the right balance between celebrating with family and friends and spending the time you may need on your own. Give yourself permission to pace your activities and to decline an invitation or two so that you have the energy to enjoy gatherings that are most important to you. Create a new holiday season tradition that makes the most of your energy. Change your usual holiday activities so you relieve yourself of some of the pressures of entertaining. Have a bring and share meal with family members and have someone else host the meal or suggest eating out at a favourite restaurant. Be an innovative shopper. Use direct selling catalogues or try online shopping this year. You can also make a gift of sharing your thoughts and feelings. Write a short note or make a phone call to let others know that you are thinking about them. Express your feelings in ways that help you receive the support of the important people in your life. Tears can bring a sense of relief. Laughter can be relaxing. Sharing can be comforting. It is common to experience a mixture of anticipation, excitement and apprehension about the future, talk about your feelings with a loved one, friend or professional counsellor. Source: Cancer Care

4 SMART CHOICE Page 4 THANK YOU ABSA! Women employed by ABSA recently visited the Theunis Fichardt Hospitium and CANSA Regional Office in Polokwane to learn more about breast health. In support of CANSA s volunteer training programme, ABSA also donated R towards the project. CANSA Polokwane would like to take this opportunity to thank ABSA for their very generous donation. Pictured here is Erna Maré (CANSA Polokwane Regional Manager) and the ABSA team. CANSA MAFIKENG VISITS THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM The Department of Economic Development and Tourism recently hosted a wellness day where CANSA Mafikeng presented a health talk about cancer and CANSA s services. Isabella Mogodi, the Wellness Officer, handed out pamphlets while Kebone Setshedi, CANSA Mafikeng Regional Manager, gave a breast cancer presentation. To arrange for a health talk or presentation in the Mafikeng area, Kebone Setshedi can be contacted on or CANSA WATERBERG APPROACHED BY RED CROSS TO DO VOLUNTEER TRAINING Willy Maja, HPC of CANSA Waterberg has been approached by the Red Cross in Mokopane to train 70 of their volunteers and ten staff members during October. This is an excellent opportunity for CANSA Waterberg to form a partnership with the Red Cross and since Mokopane is a relatively new area for CANSA Waterberg, this will be a huge asset in establishing CANSA s services in this region. If anybody in the Mokopane area is interested in becoming a CANSA volunteer, Willy Maja can be contacted on CANSA POLOKWANE NAMED AS BENEFACTOR IN EDCON CAMPAIGN CANSA Polokwane is the benefactor of the ED- CON Groups Breast Wellness campaign for 2007 and to celebrate this, EDCON sponsored a breast wellness day in Polokwane. The day was a resounding success and R was donated for breast health in the region. Mrs Ramokone Moloto, the first lady of Limpopo, delivered the keynote address at the function. CANSA Polokwane would like to take this opportunity to thank EDCON Groups for their generosity. Pictured here are: Gerda Strauss (CANSA North West and Limpopo Provincial Manager), Erna Maré (CANSA Polokwane), Ramokone Moloto (First lady of Limpopo), Sue Janse van Rensburg (National Executive Director of CANSA) and Xolile Caga (Group CSI Manager EDCON). CANSA ONDERSTEUNINGSGROEP KOORDINEERDER GEKIES AS STER VROU VAN BLOEMHOF Ansie Groenewald en haar span van die Bloemval Tuinbou Klub het uitstekende werk verrig met hierdie uithang funksie wat koor en n mode parade ingesluit het. Mev. Heleen Muller is by hierdie geleentheid aangewys as stêr vrou van Bloemhof. Sy is genomineer as n dame wat reeds die pad van pyn en opoffering gestap het en wie werklik integriteit en getrouheid in gemeenskap toon en iemand na wie mense kan opsien omdat sy die vrugte dra wat by haar hart pas. CANSA sien daarna uit om n lang en vrugbare pad te stap met die nuwe komitee wat insluit: Ans Aucamp, Jeanne Boshoff, Sonia van Vuuren, Florisa Beukes, Salome Beukes, Marlene Coetzee, Anet Venter en Veline Roberts. Ansie Groenewald, Heleen Muller, Naeela Cajee (CANSA) en Carita Bouwer (CANSA).

5 SMART CHOICE Page 5 PASOP VIR DIE SON Velkanker is die algemeenste tipe kanker in Suid-Afrika met nuwe gevalle en meer as 700 sterftes jaarliks, sê die Kankervereniging van Suid-Afrika (CANSA). Die goeie nuus is dat velkanker voorkom kan word as mense die son respekteer en leer hoe om Sonwys te wees en die advies van CANSA, n 75 jaar oue nie-winsgewende organisasie wat toegewyd is om kanker te beveg en lewens te red, te volg. Kenners voorspel n toename in velkanker, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van aardverhitting en ander omgewingsveranderings. Dit beteken dat mense wat in sonnige dele van die wêreld woon, uiters versigtig moet wees in die buitelug. Naas Australië neem die voorkoms van velkanker die vinnigste ter wêreld toe in Suid-Afrika, sê Ansie Botma, koördineerder van CANSA se Sonwys - veldtog. Ons moet almal probeer om sonbrand en sonververbruining te vermy. n Sonverbruinde vel is nie n teken van gesondheid nie; dit is n teken van velskade. Die eerste beskermingsmetode is klere. Diggeweefde materiaal voorkom sonstrale om die vel te bereik. Dra n hoed met n breë rand om die ore, neus, agterkant van die nek en die gesig te beskerm. Wees op die uitkyk vir UV beskermende swempakkies, strandklere, hemde, ens. wat UV beskermende eienskappe het. Die maatstaf vir materiaal is UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) wat wissel van UPF20, 30, 40 en die maksimum van UPF50. Beskerm alle ontblote dele van die vel met n sonskermmiddel van ten minste SPF15. Dra n sonbril met n ultraviolet-gradering van ten minste UV400 om jou oë teen die ultravioletstrale van die son te beskerm. n Bril wat om die gesig vou, verminder die aantal UV-strale wat die oë bereik. Vermy blootstelling aan direkte sonlig tussen 10vm en 3nm en gebruik koelte waar moontlik. n Sambreel van goeie gehalte moet van diggeweefde materiaal vervaardig word om UV-strale te blokkeer. Wees op die uitkyk vir sambrele wat UV beskerming aandui. Clicks is weer vanjaar die hoofborg van KANSA se Sonwys projek wat van November tot Februarie landwyd aangebied word deur middel van praatjies, uitstallings, besoeke aan skole, vakansie-oorde en strande. Velklinieke word ook aangebied by vakansie bestemmings, veral op die strande waar n dermatoloog, tesame met CANSA personeel en vrywilligers, lede van die publiek, op aanvraag ondersoek. Verskeie sonskermmiddel vervaardigers en voorsieners het hierdie jaar produkte geborg wat by hierdie projekte gebruik gaan word. Hierdie produkte dra almal die KANSA Merk van Erkenning embleem. Produkte word getoets en moet voldoen aan die vasgestelde standaarde vir sonskermmiddels voordat die CANSA Merk toegeken word. Die publiek kan hierdie produkte met selfvertroue gebruik en weet dat die produkte in Suid-Afrika getoets en goedgekeur was vir hul beskermingsvlakke. Maak seker dat sonskermmiddels wel breëspektrum beskermingsvermoë het, wat beteken dat dit teen UVA en UVB beskerm. UVA veroorsaak hoofsaaklik vroeë veroudering van die vel en UVB verbranding of verbruining. Altwee is verantwoordelik vir velskade, velvlekke, vroeë veroudering en uiteindelik velkanker. Om velkanker te help voorkom, beveel CANSA die volgende aan: Alle skole behoort hoede deel van die uniform te maak en buitemuurse aktiwiteite moet buite die gevaartyd van 10vm en 3nm plaasvind. Voldoende koelte moet voorsien word vir skoliere op die skoolterrein gedurende pouses en buitemuurse byeenkomste. Sonbeddens of sonlampe moet ten alle koste vermy word. Hulle is gevaarlik en navorsing toon dat dit jou risiko vir die ontwikkeling van melanome, die gevaarlikste tipe velkanker, verdubbel. Anders as wat algemeen aanvaar word berei sonbeddens en sonlampe NIE jou vel voor vir sonblootstelling NIE! Alle buitemuurse werkers, byvoorbeeld plaaswerkers en konstruksiewerkers, moet voorsien word van beskermende klere en hoede. Alle Suid-Afrikaners moet hul vel gereeld ondersoek vir tekens van verandering, ongewone merke of vlekke en moesies. Alle Suid-Afrikaners moet hul vel gereeld ondersoek vir tekens van verandering, ongewone merke of vlekke en moesies. n Jaarlikse mediese ondersoek moet ook n velondersoek insluit om moontlike velkanker vroeg op te spoor. Elkeen wat aan die son blootgestel word loop die risiko om velkanker te ontwikkel, ongeag of jy n ligte of donker vel het.

6 MESSAGE FROM THE PROVINCIAL MANAGER NORTH WEST LIMPOPO: MS. GERDA STRAUSS For us at CANSA, it has been a rewarding year, knowing that we have made a difference in some small way, in the lives of those touched by Cancer. But, we couldn t have done it without you, our sponsors and friends. For this we want to thank you very, very much! Your kind support and assistance towards the well-being of the CANSA is appreciated by all of us. We are grateful to each and every CANSA NW/ Limpopo volunteer, without whom we could not have completed our work - with your help and assistance, all of our regional offices can look forward to realizing many more of our dreams. Always remember that our working relations with each other are extremely important to us. Dear CANSA friends & patients, Another year has come and gone - Another year with its own smiles and tears. On behalf of CANSA North West & Limpopo staff, we would like to wish yourself and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season, and all the best for Yours sincerely Gerda Strauss Provincial Manager CANSA North West and Limpopo is pleased to welcome Adelé Voges as the new Regional Manager of CANSA Rustenburg. CANSA OFFICES: Provincial Office: Rustenburg Region: Mafikeng Region: Vryburg Region: Klerksdorp Region: Potchefstroom Region: Modimolle Region: Polokwane Region: CANSA NORTH WEST& LIMPOPO The Cancer Association of South Africa 7 Olienhout Street Protea Park Rustenburg 0300 P O Box Protea Park 0305 Phone: Fax: cstumke@cansa.org.za Toll Free Number: WE RE ON THE WEB: For comments or contributions, contact The Editor, Charmaine Stumke at or cstumke@cansa.org.za W W W. C A N S A N W. G I V E N G A I N. O R G / W W W. C A N S A L P. G I V E N G A I N. O R G