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Your Support is a Lifeline

Dear Friend

When I look back at how you’ve helped us continue to care for cancer patients during the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m overwhelmed by your kindness. And I can’t find enough words to say, 'Thank You'. It’s through the difficult times when real friends stand out, and stand by. Your friendship, your care and concern for cancer patients and their families has shone through, making you very special in all our eyes. COVID-19 has not held you back from reaching out to others. We’d like to share just how you’ve done so below. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Elize Joubert

CEO CANSA

Your heart went out to children with cancer…

Most of us would do whatever is needed to save a child from pain and trauma. You did exactly that when we asked for your support to provide Broviac Ports. You sent your donation, and combined with the donations from other CANSA friends like you, we were able to deliver your ports to several paediatric oncology units. These included Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Polokwane, Frere Provincial Hospital in East London, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and others. From the Pietersburg Hospital in Limpopo, Dr Wedi expressed her deep gratitude for how the ports improve the quality of life and treatment of their child patients, and their caregivers. From Port Elizabeth’s Provincial Hospital, Dr Mathews shared how reliant they are on the donation of the ports which take the trauma out of delivering life-saving chemotherapy, blood products, and intravenous treatments like antibiotics. The Broviac Ports also prevent the breakdown of children’s delicate veins. Instead of needles being inserted into veins with difficulty time and time again, the Broviac Port only requires a one- time surgical procedure. This procedure links an external catheter under the skin, linking it to a major blood vessel – most often in the chest. It is then in place for future intravenous treatments, without pain or distress. Sometimes families can afford to buy a Broviac Port for their child, or their medical aid will do so. But for the vast majority of paediatric oncology patients, a Broviac is totally out of reach. Perhaps you can imagine the relief and gratitude when friends like you make these ports available. The thanks and appreciation from the above hospitals and their young patients, belong to you. Every Broviac Port delivered was made possible by your compassionate generosity. And here at CANSA, we add our thanks to theirs.

You provided a shoulder to lean on…

Sometimes all that’s needed is an empathetic and understanding ear. And it’s to answer this need that you’ve helped us launch CANSA Tele Counselling. A service offering free appointment-based counselling to those living with cancer including parents, siblings, caregivers of cancer patients or survivors. In seven languages, appointments can be made via the CANSA Help Desk at 0800 22 66 22. Additional online support can be found for cancer survivors on Facebook - ‘Champions of Hope’ while caregivers also have a platform ‘CANSA Caring for the Caregivers’. Parents and guardians can also join CANSA’s TLC Childhood Cancer Facebook support group to connect with others walking a similar path.

You helped distribute care packs and provide accommodation to cancer patients…

Thank you for so generously contributing to the care packs that are so gratefully received by patients who cannot afford the basic items needed for a stay in hospital and for ensuring that we were able to (and continue to) keep our Care Homes safe and sanitised against COVID-19. Your help towards covering the unexpected additional cost of cleaning materials, sanitiser and masks is appreciated more than you can know.

Your support kept CANSA’s doors open…

You have enabled us to keep on caring for those affected by cancer in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic turning our lives upside down. We wish that space would allow us to share all the messages of gratitude from those you’ve helped, but here are just a few of them:

From Danie van Tonder: “In January 2020 when my wife needed home care, CANSA went out of their way to ensure that we had absolutely everything to make her as comfortable as possible. Sadly, my wife lost her fight against cancer three months later – but ‘thank you’ is too little to really express our appreciation for so much help in our time of need.”

From George Bindeman: “I was shattered by my cancer diagnosis at the beginning of 2020, it made me feel that my life was over. Then came lockdown, with nobody allowed to visit me. The moral support over the telephone from CANSA was really appreciated.”

From Nonkqubela Bonkolo: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months after my graduation as a social worker. I was traumatised, but referral to a CANSA oncology social worker helped me a lot, including access to a prosthesis, since I was unemployed. I’m currently a volunteer under her wing, giving back on what was done for me.”

From Tembela Kraai: “I would like to say ‘thank you’, for assisting my father-in-law. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, unfortunately at a late stage. But CANSA provided us with essentials like a mattress and a walker, as well as information. The experience has ignited the interest in me to serve others as a volunteer, especially men about the importance of early testing of prostate.”

You helped cancer patients manage their pain…

Your donations help us to constantly improve and enlarge our service to cancer patients and their families.

Our new Pain Management Home Guides – for the management of pain in both children and adults is the latest way in which you’ve helped.

Cancer is often associated with pain, and this can be true, but what is it? Pain is largely an unpleasant sensation that varies from mild to extreme discomfort and distress. It can be specific to one part of the body or feel as though it’s all over the body. Unchecked, pain affects sleeping patterns, moods, energy levels, and overall quality of life, making everything more difficult. Everyone has the right to have their pain treated effectively, and these guides are to help parents and individuals work closely with their healthcare professionals to find the right management plan. The guides have been drawn up by professional medical practitioners in clear and straightforward language, with helpful scale and site identification diagrams. They also answer frequently asked questions and dispel myths. Thank you for being part of making this huge difference in providing information for patients being cared for at home.

You reassured metastatic breast cancer patients that they were not alone…

Having endured and survived breast cancer, it’s a body blow to later discover that the disease has metastasised (spread to other parts of the body). This situation needs specialised support which is now provided by our online service to help these patients with their new long-term challenges. It’s especially helpful in these times of COVID-19, when ‘at-risk’ patients cannot attend face-to-face support programmes. This online programme with its 16 weeks of emails provides information, and empowers metastatic breast cancer patients in the comfort of home. Thanks to your generous donations this support is now a reality…

Your Support Can Be Without Limit

The importance of having a valid and up to date Will is common knowledge. But it’s surprising how many people ‘haven’t got round to it’, or feel that it’s ‘tempting fate’ and avoid taking the step. Your Will is your statement of your love and care for your family and those important to you, (including causes close to your heart). And having it in place saves your loved ones the pain and hardship that comes with an intestate situation. As someone who cares deeply about helping cancer patients and their families, you may want to consider continuing your caring support beyond your own lifetime – through including a bequest to CANSA in your Will. Should you be interested in knowing more, our free helpful guide to making a Will, and information on the difference that your bequest could make, can be mailed to you on request. Or you can contact us on Tel: 011-616 7662, or by email: [email protected] if you’d like to set up a personal discussion. All Wills related communications are held in strict confidence.

Cheques:

Please be advised on 31 December 2020, South African Banks stopped accepting cheques as a form of payment. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you, but ask that for your future vital donations you choose one of the following alternative payment options: EFT, credit card, online through our website (www.act4cansa.org.za), or EasyPay. Thank you for your understanding.

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