--APRIL/MAY 2012

Three South Africans recently represented the country as LIVE-STRONG Leaders at the annual LIVESTRONG Assembly in Austin,Texas.

The 200 LIVESTRONG Leaders from 26 countries are highlyengaged constituents identified by the Lance ArmstrongFoundation to be representatives within their communities wherethey support and promote the Foundation's mission to serve peo-ple affected by cancer and empower communities to take actionagainst the world’s leading cause of death.

During the Assembly, they were trained and educated on the goalsand priorities of the Foundation and learned about the organisa-tion’s future plans. They were also able to meet and share bestpractices with other LIVESTRONG partners who run programmesin cities around the world.

“What needs to happen is for doctors to come down off theirpedestal and for patients to get up off their knees,” said RobertJohnstone of the International Alliance of Patient Organizations atthe First European Conference on Patient Empowerment held in

Copenhagen, Denmark during April2012.

The Conference was attended by 260participants from 35 countries and sup-ported a key agenda item of the DanishPresidency of the Council of theEuropean Union.

Technological advances such as greateraccess to information and knowledge (inpart because of increasing use of socialmedia and social changes), experiencewith self-management programmes andnew legal requirements for patientinvolvement have also contributed tocreating a new dynamic through whichpatients and citizens are redefining theirroles in relation to health and social care.

“Doctors have to change … the role ofthe general practitioner has never beenmore important, but the training is old-fashioned,” commented Sven

Magnusson from Iceland during the Conference. Participants madeit clear that involving patients as qualified partners in co-produc-ing health care is a positive development that health services needto embrace.

“Is there not a danger that patients will just demand more andmore as they become empowered?” was one of the concernsraised in the debate. Several participants countered this worry andexplained their experiences. Patients who are engaged in theirtreatment and in decision-making are far more responsive totreatment, and it is more effective. Moreover, when presented withvarious options, patients tend to choose those that are less inva-sive and thus not necessarily more expensive.

New technology allows patients to get and share information easily and gives them access to knowledge traditionally held bydoctors, but this change does not inherently empower patients,participants agreed. Technology can be used to build a healthyscepticism among the public and make them aware of the choicesthey have and participants generally agreed that technology is auseful tool, but what really needs to be addressed is how tochange the health system.

Presentation: Patient empowerment in the European Region –First European Conference on Patient Empowerment

PATIENT EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE

Doctors have to change . . .

Our South African delegates to the Assembly, Johan Van Staden,Nokuthula Mngadi and Cameron Green.

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PUBLICATION IN “VISION”NEWSLETTER

Articles, letters and events submitted for publication in VISION are welcomed and can be sent to:

cansurvive@icon.co.za

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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Alnet is helping Can-Sir to make a differenceAlnet (Pty) Ltd is a proud sponsor of Can-Sir, which is a non-profitorganisation and they hope to continue this venture and journeytogether.

Director and CEO, Martijn Appelo, has a deep connection withCan-Sir as some members of his staff have been affected byprostate, breast and other forms of cancer.

Mr. Martijn Appelo had this to say;

“Alnet is proud to be a member of the broader cancer communityand we are looking forward to sharing events in and around ourcommunity with Can-Sir. Sponsoring Can-Sir is more than justgetting our name on t-shirts… it is being an active, involved mem-ber of this great community and letting the city know who youare, through the charities that you support.  Alnet is unique in thatwe are people driven – we have no “agenda” except to improveand help educate our staff and communities.

“We sponsor Can-Sir because they are focused on raising aware-ness and educating our youth and older citizens to the dangers ofcancer. All the money they raise is ploughed back into their projects, giving assistance to families in our community who needtheir support most.

“We realise that through our company’s sponsorship, we help tomake a difference.”

Mr. Martijn Appelo, CEO (Left) Ms. Elize O’Neil, CFO (Cntr) Mr.Ismail-Ian Fife Can-Sir CEO (Right)

New prostatecancer allianceMr Darryl Mitteldorf is the OrganisingSecretary of the newly formed GlobalProstate Cancer Alliance,

People Living With Cancer have joinedthis new international body. Their web-site is www.prostatecanceralliance.org

New support groups forKleinvleiCan-Sir has just concluded fruitful discussions with the medicalstaff of Kleinvlei Community Health Centre.

At the invitation of Sister-in-charge, Sister Virgotienie, Can-Sirjoined various members of the Centre and members of the com-munity to discuss the topic of cancer support.

In the discussion, there was an overwhelming support for a cancersupport group to be started in the area and particularly for men asthe numbers of men with cancer are staggering.

It was also requested that a general cancer support group beestablished and that they be held on the same day, but split upinto two groups as the men felt they wanted to be on their own –this seems to be a general trend.

Can-Sir will be meeting with them again after they have consultedall parties, to finalise this process of setting up of the two groups.Can-Sir was also requested to do a presentation for men, to raiseprostate cancer awareness.

Once again, Can-Sir is making inroads into the communities thatneed their support the most.

You don’t need toface cancer alone!You are invited to join us at our Cape Town

Cancer Support Groups:

Vincent Pallotti Hospital in the GVIOncology unit: Contact Linda Greeff

0219494060

Panorama Support Groups (morning andevening): Contact Emerentia Esterhuyse

021 944 3850See the calendar on page 7 for dates

or contact the PLWC helpline on 076 775 6099

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU

We are here to help

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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Can-Sir supporters at the Two Oceans MarathonThe Cape of storms lived up to its name at the 2012 Two OceansMarathon, causing havoc at many refreshment stations. Can-Sir’s sta-tion did not escape the storm without any drama but its members andvolunteers stood steadfast.

Can-Sir CEO, Ismail-Ian Fife, had this to say: “This weather is child’splay compared to what cancer patients and survivors have to gothrough in their daily lives, for me and the survivors who turned up, itwas just another fun day at the office, an outing if you will. However, Ihave to admit, being the first refreshment station and seeing around16 500 runners approaching you, all still very fresh, now that is scary!It felt as though we were being charged by an army on a battlefield.

“The Can-Sir members and volunteers who came out to lend a handand their support to our cause, that of raising awareness and educa-tion for cancer, have shown that our communities really care aboutthe plight of cancer sufferers and that not even the Cape of Stormscould keep them in their warms beds but that they chose to comeout on a bitterly cold day in support of Can-Sir’s goals and in supportof those men, woman and children suffering of cancer.”

He continued: “This was our first ever attempt at a refreshment sta-tion and the thought of being part of the Two Oceans Marathon wasa bit daunting, but I was silently confident the we would pull it off.After a shaky start at the setup of the station just before the officialstart… we got into the swing of things pretty fast and boy…. Did ourpeople pull it off!!!… I am so proud of them.”

Unfortunately there are not many pictures as 95% of the runnerspassed the station while it was still dark, and during that time every-one was too busy handing out refreshments and really had no timeto take pictures but the enthusiasm shown by Can-Sir supporters incheering on all the runners was phenomenal, with some even runningwith them and cheering them on.

LETTER

A soft place to landI have always had a special place in my heart for anyone whosuffers. I believe we are all on some type of island, lonely andscary at times, until we find a way off.

Perhaps we isolate ourselves unwittingly when we are told wehave cancer. Perhaps we are both the prisoner and the wardenon our island.

The assault on your body and especially your mind when youbecome aware of your cancer is a shock, and you are suddenlyquite aware of your own mortality, and your instant closenessto your own demise.

It's a reality check, raw without window dressing and the rushof emotions can be overwhelming to the strongest soul. Sincewe are all only human our response to this assault is limited toour simple pallet of emotions. Far easier it would be if we weresuper humans with super human capabilities. But we are leftalone with our fears and thoughts occupied with uncertaintyand doubts..

Into this abyss comes the soft place to land, a support group.

Others share their experiences, like pioneers trailblazing thenew frontier, providing all that follow with a clearer path. Apath more familiar since we have spoken of it in the group withhardy souls that have traversed its ruts and ridges, smoothingthem out for whoever follows.

We become more able to accept our malady and continue withour lives, enjoying the good and the not so good, with a senseof appreciation and clarity, that only someone with cancer orsome other life threatening disease can know. As long as wecan share our experiences we will never be alone. Lonelymaybe, but never alone.

- APPLE

Live your lifeLive your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.Trouble no one about his religion. Respect others in their views anddemand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,beautify all things in your life.

Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. Preparea noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing afriend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. When you rise inthe morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for yourstrength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If yousee no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.

Touch not the poisonous firewater that makes wise ones turn tofools and robs the spirit of its vision. When your time comes to die,be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so thatwhen their time comes they weep and pray for a little more timeto live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your deathsong, and die like a hero going home. - The Teaching of Tecumseh

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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Tobacco - the most preventable cause of death The Fourth Edition of the Tobacco Atlas, and its companion web-site TobaccoAtlas.org, were unveiled in March by the AmericanCancer Society and World Lung Foundation at the 15th WorldConference on Tobacco OR Health.

The Atlas graphically details the scale of the tobacco epidemic,progress that has been made in tobacco control, and the latestproducts and tactics being deployed by the highly profitabletobacco industry – such as the use of new media, trade litigation,and aggressive development of smokeless products.

In 2011, according to The Tobacco Atlas, tobacco use killed almost6 million people, with nearly 80% of these deaths occurring inlow- and middle-income countries. When considering 2010 deathswith tobacco industry revenue, the tobacco industry realisesalmost $6,000 in profit for each death caused by tobacco.

If trends continue, one billion people will die from tobacco use andexposure during the 21st century – one person every six seconds.Globally, tobacco-related deaths have nearly tripled in the pastdecade, and tobacco is responsible for more than 15% of all maledeaths and 7% of female deaths. Tobacco is also a risk factor forthe four leading noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – cancer,heart disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases – whichaccount for more than 63% of global deaths according to theWorld Health Organization.

Burden Shifts to the World’s Poorest Countries

The Tobacco Atlas outlines in graphic detail that the burden oftobacco cultivation, consumption, illness and death is movingfrom developed to developing parts of the world and is taking anincreased toll on low- and middle-income countries:

• Nearly 80% of those who die from tobacco-related illnesses arein low- and middle-income countries.

• In 2009, six of the top 10 tobacco-producing countries had mal-nourishment rates between 5% and 27%.

• Cigarettes have become an average of 21.7% more affordable inlow- and middle-income countries over the past decade.

• In low-resource countries, only US$0.0001 is spent on tobaccocontrol per capita.

• 39% of countries – predominantly low- and middle-incomecountries – do not provide cessation support services in the officesof health professionals.

More than 43 trillion cigarettes have been smoked in the last tenyears and cigarette production has increased by 16.5% in thattime period, according to The Tobacco Atlas. Annual cigarette con-sumption has also increased significantly during this time period.

The tobacco industry has increased its efforts to combat demandreduction efforts, launching legal challenges in every region of theworld. Since 2008, it has worked to delay or stop plain packaging,smoke-free legislation, advertising bans and graphic pack warnings.

In addition, the industry has sought to subvert existing tobaccocontrol legislation by introducing new smokeless products, oftenbearing the same branding as existing cigarette brands, and theuse of the Internet and new media, where over 70% of analysedcontent has been identified as pro-tobacco.

“We can no longer deny nor accept the massive human and eco-nomic harm caused by tobacco. This book is a vital tool for notonly public health advocates, but also for governments, econo-mists, educators and the media to use to tell the story of how acohesive, well-funded tobacco industry is systematically causingpreventable deaths and crippling economies. We know what needsto be done to counteract these tactics and save up to hundreds ofmillions of lives,” said John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer,American Cancer Society.

www.tobaccoatlas.org

Clinical trials under the spotlightBen Goldacre best-selling author, broadcaster, medical doctorand academic who specialises in unpicking dodgy scientificclaims from drug companies, newspapers, government reports,PR people and quacks has undertaken a project to dig up all theclinical trials that were registered with the FDA, and find theones that never got published.

An example of his findings: in a survey of all 74 trials eversubmitted to the FDA for anti-depressants, about half hadpositive outcomes – but only 40 papers were published, ofwhich 37 were positive. Of the 36 negative outcomes, onlythree were published. That boils down:

Reality: 51% positivePublished: 92% positive (37/40)Withheld / unpublished: 97% negative (33/34)

That’s an extreme example, Goldacre says, but only about halfthe trials that are conducted are ever published, and positiveoutcomes are twice as likely to be published as unfavorableones.

You can visit Ben Goldacre’s website at www.badscience.net

We want to help you!You are invited to join us at our Pretoria

Cancer Support Group:

Most of our monthly meetings take place onthe first Saturday of the month from 14h00

to 16h00 at the Little Company of MaryHospital in Groenkloof – Mary Potter

Oncology Conference Hall .

PLWC, PretoriaContact Jean Robinson 078 727 1078

See the calendar on page 7 for dates

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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Annual Motorcycle Ridedate confirmedCancer.vive has confirmed 22 – 29 September 2012 as the datesfor their annual motorcycle ride. They propose spending the firstthree days in the Gauteng area and then a further four days in andaround Mpumalanga visiting places such as Witbank andNelspruit.

This year the trip will be made by 30 cancer survivors and a back-up team of 15 people.

Cancer.vive has confirmed that their main sponsor for 2012 will beRevlon. Other confirmed sponsors are Triumph, Imperial, Ford andMazda.

Support for breast cancerpatients in ZimbabweA new cancer support organisation, Breast Best FriendZimbabwe, was registered in March this year as a PrivateVoluntary Organisation.

Based in Bulawayo, their aims are:(1) To enhance life skills and lifestyle choices for breast cancersufferers through counselling and sharing ideas.(2) To advocate for the rights of orphans left by cancer patients(3)To promote breast cancer awareness among women andmen with special emphasis on the poor and vulnerable citizens

Their initial intention is to form support groups and to compilea database of survivors.

This new organisation lacks all the basic needs – including officespace and equipment, so if there is anyone willing to help ormake a donation, please contact them at:

The Secretary,Breast Best Friend Zimbabwe18 Evesham RoadSouthworld, Bulawayo.Zimbabwe

Or e-mail bbfzim@gmail.com

IT’s OK to talkabout cancer

Join in the conversation at ourCanSurvive Cancer

Support Group! On the second Saturday of each month

at 9h00. Have a cup of tea/coffee, achat and listen to an interesting talk

18 Eton Road, Parktown(opposite Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre main entrance)

All patients and caregivers are welcome. No charge is made

Enquiries:

083 640 4949email: jhb@plwc.org.za

The Group is run by members of theJohannesburg Branch of People LivingWith Cancer in association with theWits Donald Gordon Medical Centreand is open to any patient or caregiver.

Thyroid cancer treatmentbreakthroughA new gold standard for thyroid cancer treatment has been set,reducing radiation doses to just one third of the current level, accord-ing to research from the CRUK-UCL Cancer Trials Centre. The resultswere published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Patients currently have surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland. Afew weeks later they take a capsule containing radioactive iodinewhich destroys any remaining healthy thyroid gland tissue and anypotential cancer cells. Improvements in surgery mean more of thethyroid gland is removed during the operation, leaving fewer remain-ing cells to be ‘mopped up’ - so lower radiation doses are adequateand equally effective.

The higher doses of radioactive iodine previously thought necessarymeant that patients had to stay in a hospital isolation unit for atleast two days while the radiation left their bodies, without physicalcontact from family and friends. These high doses could have severalside effects – the more serious of which occur later in life, such as apermanent dry mouth, and a small chance that a new cancer willdevelop.However, patients taking the lower dose capsule can betreated as an outpatient. The process is easier, quicker (hours, ratherthan days), and patients experience fewer side effects.

A secondary finding of the study is that patients can avoid thesesymptoms if they continue to take thyroid hormone tablets and arealso given an injection of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (Thyrogen)just before they take the low dose radioactive iodine.

“Patients will have a much better quality of life. They’ll be treatedmuch more quickly, which will keep the disruption to their lives to aminimum, as well as saving the NHS money.”

Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, says:“Being treated as an outpatient means that patients should be ableto be in their home surroundings on the same day as the treatment.The lower dose of radiation and thyrogen will help them carry onwith their lives as usual at work or at home without requiring severaldays to recover.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer/about_us/news

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

The first two weeks of April are generally known to thecancer fraternity as Testicular cancer weeks, however thisyear, because of the Easter Weekend and Public Holidays, Can-Sirstarted their 14days/20 High Schools campaign a bit late in orderto accommodate this.

Responses to Can-Sir’s call to visit various schools within the Capearea started off very slow butthat could be attributed tothe holidays. However, assoon as schools re-opened,the phone lines rang off thehook with numerous schoolsshowing an interest to thecall of Testicular Cancerawareness amongst teens

and especially high school students.

Schools around the Cape Metropol, Cape Flats, Northern Suburbsand even West Coast were visited by Can-Sir volunteers and itsexecutive, who took special leave for this occasion. Loads of funwas had by all, teachers, students, volunteers and even at someschools, the parents who were invited.

There is a saying “Children ask the damndest things” Well theywere asking all sorts of very uncomfortable questions of some par-ents who at times had to chirp in to discipline their children. Thecampaign centred on Testicular Cancer but actually there weremore girls than boys at all of the events held and more girls thanboys posing the questions. In 90% of the cases, the girls wereactually being nudged by the guys . . . which was really funny . . .

This is the first time the campaign has been run and a total of1163 students attended these talks. Next year Can-Sir and itspartners will make it bigger and better! That’s a promise . . .

Ismail-Ian Fife

Can-Sir run successful14 days/20 Schools Campaign

Above: Mondale High School

Above: Windsor High School

Abovre and below: Rosendal High School

Atlantis High School Above: Voorbrug High School

Above: St Mary’s High School. Below: Diep River High School

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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Dates to remember

15 Reach for Recovery, Pretoria meeting.16 PLWC Panorama Hospital morning Support Group. Talking

about self-image.18 Let's Talk About Cancer Monthly Awareness Meeting23 Reach For Recovery Cape Peninsula Branch. 10h00 Talk by

breast surgeon.27 PLWC Vincent Pallotti Oncology Support Group. Supporting

a family member or friend with cancer.

May 2012Anti-tobacco campaign month

8 PLWC Panorama Hospital evening Support Group. Talkingabout lung cancer.

9 GVi Oncology Port Elizabeth - Langenhoven Oncology Centre- Diet, supplements, alternative treatments.

17 PLWC Panorama Hospital morning Support Group. Managingthe workplace and cancer.

19 PLWC/ Johannesburg CanSurvive Cancer Support Group 9h00.19 Let's Talk About Cancer Monthly Awareness Meeting24 Reach For Recovery Cape Peninsula Branch. 10h00 Look

Good, Feel Better.28 Bosom Buddies Pink Pyjama Party.28 PLWC Vincent Pallotti Oncology Support Group. Tai Chi for

stress relief.31 PinkDrive at Bonitas Comrades Marathon.

June 20121/3 PinkDrive at Bonitas Comrades Marathon.2 PLWC Pretoria Support Group. 14h00 Dietitian.2 Reach for Recovery, Johannesburg, 9:30 for 10:005 INTERNATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY.7 GVI Cape Gate Support Group, Balanced living.9 PLWC/ Johannesburg CanSurvive Cancer Support Group 9h00.9 Bosom Buddies public meeting.9 PLWC Pretoria Support Group. 9h00 Bottles of Hope.12 PLWC Panorama Hospital evening Support Group. Talking

about colon cancer.13 GVi Oncology Port Elizabeth - Langenhoven Oncology Centre

- What is cancer - treatment options. 14 PLWC Panorama Hospital morning Support Group. Chemo

and the side-effects.16 Let's Talk About Cancer Monthly Awareness Meeting21 Reach for Recovery, Pretoria meeting.25 PLWC Vincent Pallotti Oncology Support Group.Clinical trials

and the value they bring to oncology.

July 20125 GVI Cape Gate Support Group, New drug developments.6/15 PinkDrive at Knysna Oyster Festival.7 PLWC Pretoria Support Group.14h00 Childrens cancer.11 GVi Oncology Port Elizabeth - Langenhoven Oncology Centre

- Managing cancer treatent.14 PLWC/ Johannesburg CanSurvive Cancer Support Group.21 Let's Talk About Cancer Monthly Awareness Meeting21 Bosom Buddies 7th birthday.22 PinkDrive at Discovery 702 Walk The Talk.26 Reach For Recovery Cape Peninsula Branch. 10h00 Breast

Diseases.30 PLWC Vincent Pallotti Oncology Support Group. New

developments in oncology.

August 20121 GVi Oncology Port Elizabeth - Langenhoven Oncology Centre

- Emotional impact of cancer.2 GVI Cape Gate Support Group, Supportive & palliative care.4 PLWC Pretoria Support Group. 14h00 Men’s cancers.4 GVI Cape Gate Support Group, Managing side effects.4 Reach for Recovery, Johannesburg, 9:30 for 10:0011 NATIONAL CANCER DAY11 PLWC/ Johannesburg CanSurvive Cancer Support Group 9h00.14 Bosom Buddies Spinathon/Boxathon.14 PLWC Panorama Hospital evening Support Group. Video-

testimonies on managing cancer.

CONTACT DETAILSPeople Living With Cancer, Johannesburg, CanSurvive Cancer

Support Group : 083 640 4949, jhb@plwc.org.za

People Living With Cancer, Cape Town: 076 775 6099,info@plwc.org.za, www.plwc.org.za

People Living with Cancer, Pretoria Support Group

Contact: Jean Robinson 078 727 1078

People Living With Cancer, Panorama Support Groups (morningand evening): Emerentia Esterhuyse 021 944 3850

People Living With Cancer, Vincent Palotti Support Group

Contact: Linda Greeff 0219494060 or 076 775 6099

GVI Cape Gate Support group: Contact: Caron Caron Majewski,021 9443800

GVi Oncology Port Elizabeth ( Langenhoven Oncology Centre,LDOC Boardroom) Marina Lourens 0413630581

GVi Oncology Somerset West Group for advanced and metastaticcancers. Contact person: Nicolene Andrews 0218512255

Cancer.vive, Frieda Henning 082 335 49912, info@cancervive.co.za

Can-Sir, 021 761 6070, Ismail-Ian Fife, can-sir@telkomsa.net.Support Group: 076 775 6099.

Bosom Buddies: 0860 283 343, www.bosombuddies.org.za. Support Group: Christel Klima –0117876443

Lets Talk About Cancer: Theresa 082 681 9544

CANSA National Office: Toll-free 0800 226622

CANSA Johannesburg Central: 011 648 0990, 19 St John Road,Houghton, www.cansa.org.za

Reach for Recovery (R4R) : Johannesburg Group, 011 648 0990.

Reach for Recovery (R4R) Pretoria Group: 082 212 9933

Reach for recovery, Cape Peninsula, 021 689 5347 or 0833061941

Reach for Recovery: Harare, Zimbabwe contact 707659.

Breast Best Friend Zimbabwe, e-mail bbfzim@gmailcom

Pink Drive: cecile@causemarketing.co.za, www.pinkdrive.co.za

Cancer Centre - Harare: 60 Livingstone Avenue, HarareTel: 707673 / 705522 / 707444 Fax: 732676 E-mail:

cancer@mweb.co.zw www.cancerhre.co.zw

Make a note in your diary now that this year the EtanaDaredevils will be on the road on 2nd November.

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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CANCER ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

Harare celebrates World Cancer DayThe city of Harare almost came to stand still as people from allwalks of life marched from Parirenyatwa to Africa Unit Square incommemoration of the World Cancer Day held on the 9th ofMarch. The march was led by the Air force band, the drum major-ettes from Girls High School and nurses from ParirenyatwaHospital. Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, Doves Holdingstogether with Miss Zimbabwe finalists, Rock Foundation, MARS,Delta, Standard Charted Bank and other Ministry of Health andChild Welfare partners were also part of the colourful march andcommemoration.

World Cancer Day is normally commemorated on the 4th ofFebruary every year. The theme for this year was ‘Preventing cancer and raising the quality of life for cancer patients: Together itis possible’. In a speech to commemorate the World Cancer Dayread on his behalf by the Director of Epidemiology and Diseases inthe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, the Minister of Healthand Child Welfare said; “Of the 3,349 new cancer cases whichwere diagnosed in 2007, more than 1,300 people died of the disease.

She further pointed out that “Since not all cancers and deaths arecaptured, the above figures are an underestimation of the cancersituation in the country”

The minister also highlighted that an estimated 5 000 new casesof cancer are diagnosed every year putting pressure on the limitedresources available for cancer treatment. The minister remarked.“Zimbabweans suffering from cancer-related ailments are strug-gling to access chemotherapy as the country is only left with oneworking radiotherapy machine which is at Parirenyatwa hospital.”

“There is also shortage of medicines such as morphine, a com-monly used painkiller during chemotherapy. Other challenges facing the cancer response include inadequate human resourcessuch as haematologists, pediatric oncologists and oncology nurses.

The minister however highlighted that according to World Health

Organisation (WHO), about 40 % of all cancers can be preventedthrough practising safer sex, reduction of tobacco use and lower-ing alcohol consumption among other things. Speaking at thesame occasion. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and ChildWelfare, the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) and other keystakeholders are in the process of finalising the National CancerPrevention and Control Strategy [NCPCS], which will provideguidelines for early detection of cancers.

Speaking on the same occasion, the World Health OrganisationCountry Representative, Dr Custodia Mandlhate urgedGovernment to implement strategies recommended by WHO forcancer prevention and control to reduce the cancer burden in theregion. And to abide by the promise they made at the UnitedNations Summit held in 2011, in relation to reducing the impactof cancer.

Besides the speeches, there were exhibitions and The CancerAssociation of Zimbabwe was among the exhibitors. More than200 people visited the CAZ stand and over 1400 brochures weredistributed. Overall, the event attracted about 800 people.

We make no apology for publishing this item again - there is a lot tobe learned from geese.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following.

By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flyingrange than if the bird flew alone.

MORAL: People who share a common direction and sense ofcommunity can get where they are going quicker and easierbecause they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the dragand resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into for-mation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immedi-ately in front.

MORAL: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in

formation with those who are headed where we want to go (andbe willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others).

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formationand another goose flies at the point position.

MORAL: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks, and sharingleadership - people, as geese, are interdependent on one another.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those upfront to keep up their speed.

MORAL: We need to make sure that our honking from behind isencouragement, and not something else.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese dropout of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. Theystay with it until it is able to fly again, or dies. Then they launch outon their own with another formation, or catch up with the flock.

MORAL: If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand byeach other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong..

Lessons from geese

About us: New Vision & Mission

The Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (Cancer Centre) is a nonprofit making organization which was started in 1961.

Our Vision - The Cancer Association of Zimbabwe is committedto raising cancer awareness and improving the quality of life ofpatients and their families.

Our mission is to collectively reduce the disease burden due tocancer through promotion of action research , education , supportive counseling , advocacy and other evidence basedinterventions taking a holistic approach.

http://www.cancerassociation.co.zw/

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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CanSurvive Support Groupis now on Facebook

Visit our Facebook page and tell us what youwould like to hear at our Group meetings.

We can do so much more if you “Like” ournew page!http://www.facebook.com/pages/CanSurvive-Cancer-Support-Group/324775687576464

Americans are trying to persuade the Office of the NationalCoordinator for Health Information Technology to include printedsummaries of doctor visits in the ONC’s definition of meaningfuluse. They say that after their pets go to the veterinarian, many ofthem promptly and routinely get a paper summary that instructsthem how to best care for them, i.e., treatment follow-up, diet, andspecific healthy behaviors. Humans should get medical info fromtheir own doctors that’s as good as our dogs and cats get!”

Human patients should receive a paper summary of their doctor’sorders for new medications, changes in medications, and the treat-

Harnessing patients'immune cells to treattheir cancer"These patients are probably cured" is not something most oncol-ogists get to say about their patients with advanced cancer. Yetthat's exactly how NCI's Dr. Steven Rosenberg describes a numberof patients with advanced melanoma treated in three small clini-cal trials he has led at the NIH Clinical Centre.

The patients in these trials—most of whom had tumors through-out their body (metastatic disease) and had nearly exhaustedother treatment options—underwent a procedure known as adop-tive cell transfer (ACT).

ACT involves removing some of a patient's own immune-systemcells, growing billions of them in the laboratory, and returningthem to the patient. The idea is to provide an invading force ofimmune cells that can attack tumors in a way that the immunesystem was incapable of doing on its own.

"The results in melanoma have been impressive," said Dr.Rosenberg, who, along with his colleagues in the Surgery Branch ofNCI's Centre for Cancer Research, has done pioneering work onACT for more than a decade.

Based in large part on the Surgery Branch's success, a small butgrowing group of researchers at medical centers in the UnitedStates and abroad have launched their own programs to studyACT for melanoma and, increasingly, other cancers.

To date, only a few hundred patients have been treated with someform of ACT, but with the promising results reported thus far thetreatment is gaining more attention and raising hopes among

researchers in the field that it can one day be available to manymore patients.

The results to date are impressive. Of the 93 patients treated inthe three trials, 20 have seen their tumors disappear completely(complete response); 19 of those 20 have remained tumor-free forlonger than 5 years. (Most of these patients' tumors had notresponded to other immunotherapy treatments.) Overall, tumorsshrank substantially in 52 patients.

TIL therapy has moved overseas as well. Dr. Jacob Schachter leadsa TIL therapy program at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel that isseeing similar results in patients with metastatic melanoma. Ofthe 51 patients treated to date, 6 have had complete responses,15 have had partial responses, and a number of others have stabledisease.

"Seventy percent of the clinical responders are still alive two yearsafter treatment," he said.

http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/050112/page4

Let’s get medical info as good as our pets get!ment plan, as they exit the doctor’s office. Many patients find ithard to remember everything a doctor tells them during the visit.Foreign language speakers; patients with dementia, memory andhearing problems; anxious patients; patients with multiple condi-tions and complex treatment plans; patients in denial about theiralcohol or substance abuse, and many other patients often do nothear and retain everything a doctor advises them. Without clearlyunderstanding all a doctor’s orders, patients are unlikely to actaccordingly, which slows their recovery. It leads to unnecessarysuffering. It may also lead to a greater likelihood of entering thehospital for costly care.

For the vast majority of patients, including the elderly, and thoselacking computer skills or internet access, a paper copy of the doc-tor’s orders in plain English will be more convenient than loggingin to a seldom-used, password-protected electronic account onthe Web. By default, patients should get a paper copy handed tothem, or mailed immediately after the visit, unless they prefer anelectronic copy.

South Africa is in much the same position! Paper handouts arehighly portable and doctors should be required to routinely hand apaper copy of the doctor’s orders to each patient as he or sheleaves the doctor’s office, or mail it to the patient immediatelyafterward.

Thank you to WDGMC !People Living With Cancer and the CanSurvive CancerSupport Group Committee wish to thank Wits DonaldGordon Medical Centre for their ongoing support. They haveallowed us to use their facilities and provided refreshmentsfor the CanSurvive Cancer Support Group for two years andthis is much appreciated.

We value the support and generosity of WDGMC and theirstaff and their commitment to improving services renderedto cancer patients and their families.

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American Lung Association releasesState of Tobacco Control report Most states’ efforts to protect children and curb tobacco-relateddisease are abysmal according to the American Lung Association’sState of Tobacco Control 2012 report.

Most states did a poor job of combating tobacco-caused disease in2011 and are abdicating the responsibility to save lives. Too manystates are ceding ground in the fight to protect children.

The tobacco industry is filling that void by retooling its strategies toundermine strong federal action, exploiting states’ failure to act, andfinding new ways to addict the next generation of Americans. Theindustry spends billions of dollars to market cigarettes, and nearlydoubled the hundreds of millions of dollars to market addictive,cancer-causing smokeless tobacco products.

Youth and adult smoking rates declined slowly over the past decade,but the decline has been inconsistent and has stalled at times.

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death:443,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses andsecondhand smoke exposure. It also drains the economy of an enor-mous sum, in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association president and CEOwarned that “millions of lives are at stake.”

http://www.lungusa.org/press-room/press-releases/state-of-tobacco-control-2012.html

Vitamin D on trial According to an article in The Scientist prevention trials for vita-mins and supplements are notoriously difficult, but someresearchers aren’t giving up on finding proof that vitamin D helpsward off disease.”

But it seems the public isn’t waiting for clinical trial data. Spurredby headlines about its potential benefits, US consumer sales ofvitamin D supplements rocketed from $50 million in 2005 to$550 million in 2010, according to estimates from the NutritionBusiness Journal.

Enthusiasm for the vitamin echoes among doctors and natural-food advocates, who are pushing for doses higher than the 400 to600 International Units (IU) that the government currently recom-mends for maintaining healthy bones.

Super aspirin fights cancer in miceA POTENT “super aspirin” that can cause cancer cells to self-destructhas been developed by scientists. The hybrid version is much morepowerful than the conventional painkiller but far less toxic.

Prolonged use of traditional aspirin can cause stomach ulcers andkidney failure, but the new compound, known as NOSH, can beused in lower doses and has fewer side effects.

The new drug is a hybrid of two compounds, one of which releasesnitric oxide to protect the stomach lining and the other releases

hydrogen sulfide to increase its cancer-fighting ability.

Lower doses would minimise or potentially eliminate its sideeffects and in tests on mice, it has been shown to shrink cancercells by 85 per cent.

The pill is effective against 11 different forms of cancer, includingcolon, pancreatic, prostate, breast and leukaemia, researchers havefound.

Hailing the breakthrough, Professor Kashfi, of the Sophie DavisSchool of Biomedical Education at The City College of New York,said: “If what we have seen in animals can be translated to humansit could be used in conjunction with other drugs to shrink tumoursbefore chemotherapy or surgery.”

Dr Kat Arney, science information manager at Cancer Research UK,said: “Scientists have been investigating the cancer-fighting prop-erties of aspirin for many years, although prolonged use can causeside effects such as stomach bleeds.

“It will be interesting to see how this particular compound pro-gresses, although much more research is needed to show whetherit’s safe and effective for use in humans.”

Oral cancers: three things you need to knowApril was Oral Cancer Awareness Month and according to the USOral Cancer Foundation, close to 37,000 Americans will be diag-nosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer in 2012. The most commonrisk factors include tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumptionand HPV infection. But there are steps you can take to reduce yourrisk. AICR experts estimate that if these three recommendationsare followed, they could prevent an impressive sixty-three percentof oral cancers in the US.

1. Do not smoke or chew tobacco

Research is clear that tobacco increases risk for cancers of the lung,mouth, lips, nasal cavity and sinuses, larynx, pharynx, esophagus,stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix, colon/rectum,ovary, and acute myeloid leukemia. Research also shows, when com-bined with alcohol, tobacco can raise oral cancer risk significantly.

2. Limit alcoholic beverages

Strong evidence suggests that alcohol increases the risk for oraland throat cancer. If you drink alcohol, AICR recommends limitingyour consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men andone drink a day for women. 

3. Eat more plant-based foods

The AICR/WCRF expert report found that fruits and vegetablesprotect against cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx, stom-ach and esophagus.

Aim for at least five servings per day. A cancer-fighting diet shouldalso include whole grains and legumes, which contain fibre andother important phytochemicals.

http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=21575&news_iv_ctrl=2303

Applying Watson technology to helponcologists Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and IBM (NYSE:IBM) have agreed to collaborate on the development of a powerful

VISION, APRIL/MAY 2012

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tool built upon IBM Watson in order to provide  medical profes-sionals with improved access to current and comprehensive cancerdata and practices. The resulting decision support tool will helpdoctors everywhere create individualized cancer diagnostic andtreatment and recommendations for their patients based on cur-rent evidence.

The initiative will combine the computational power of IBMWatson and its natural language processing ability with MSKCC’sclinical knowledge, existing molecular and genomic data and vastrepository of cancer case histories, in order to create an outcomeand evidence-based decision support system. The goal is to giveoncologists located anywhere the ability to obtain detailed diag-nostic and treatment options based on updated research that willhelp them decide how best to care for an individual patient.

Development work is already underway for the first applications,which include lung, breast and prostate cancers. The objective is tobegin piloting the solutions to a select group of oncologists in late2012, with wider distribution planned for late 2013. This collabora-tion complements an earlier announcement by IBM and WellPointthat the parties will focus on putting Watson to work on oncologysolutions.

http://www.mskcc.org/news/press/mskcc-ibm-collaborate-apply-ing-watson-technology-help-oncologists?utm_source=E-

You survived cancer - now pay attentionto your overall healthCancer survivors need to pay close attention to other aspects oftheir health as they age, according to a study presented at theAmerican Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meetingin Chicago .

A new study finds that nearly half of cancer survivors die of some-thing other than cancer, such as heart disease or diabetes. And thefurther from the initial cancer diagnosis they get, the more likely itis that their cause of death will be something other than cancer.

“After the detection of cancer, clinicians and cancer survivors pay lessattention to the prevention and treatment of other diseases andcomplications,” lead researcher Dr. Yi Ning, assistant professor in thedepartment of epidemiology and community health at VirginiaCommonwealth University in Richmond, said in an association newsrelease. “We shouldn’t neglect other aspects of health because we arefocused on cancer and overlook other chronic conditions.”

“We realized that the mortality rates for some types of cancer,such as breast cancer, had declined,” said Ning, also an associateresearch member at VCU Massey Cancer Center. “Cancer survivorslive much longer than they did several decades ago. So with thislarge group of cancer survivors, we need to pay more attention tocancer survivors’ overall health.”

Scientists develop first snapshot of tinybrain tumours Cancer Research UK scientists have developed a technique theybelieve could be used to detect tiny secondary tumours in thebrain, a process that is currently impossible, according to researchpublished in March.

The scientists at Cancer Research UK’s Gray Institute for RadiationOncology and Biology at the University of Oxford showed that aspecial dye recognises and sticks to a molecule called VCAM-1, inmice. The molecule is produced in greater amounts on blood ves-

sels in cancer that has spread to the brain from other parts of thebody - known as brain metastases.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can ‘take a photo’ of the dyedistribution in the brain. This could enable cancer doctors to detectbrain metastases that are much smaller than is currently possible.

This exciting discovery reveals that a single protein could enabledoctors to literally paint a picture with a medical dye to detectcancer that has spread to the brain, at a very early stage, whentreatment has a greater chance of being successful.

Small secondary brain tumours can be treated with whole brainradiotherapy or surgery, and there are new chemotherapy treat-ments in development. But currently, it is only possible to detectlarger secondary brain tumours, which are more difficult to treat.

The next stage is to build on these results and carry out clinical trials.

Cancer Research UK

Husband’s health may be affected bywife’s breast cancerCaring for a wife with breast cancer can have a measurable nega-tive effect on men's health, even years after the cancer diagnosisand completion of treatment, according to recent research.

Men who reported the highest levels of stress in relation to theirwives' cancer were at the highest risk for physical symptoms andweaker immune responses, the study showed.

The researchers sought to determine the health effects of a recur-rence of breast cancer on patients' male caregivers, but found thathow stressed the men were about the cancer had a bigger influenceon their health than did the current status of their wives' disease.

The findings imply that clinicians caring for breast cancer patientscould help their patients by considering the caregivers' health aswell, the researchers say.

This care could include screening caregivers for stress symptomsand encouraging them to participate in stress management, relax-ation or other self-care activities, said Sharla Wells-Di Gregorio,lead author of the study and assistant professor of psychiatry andpsychology at Ohio State University.

"If you care for the caregiver, your patient gets better care, too,"said Kristen Carpenter, a postdoctoral researcher in psychology atOhio State and a study co-author.

The research is published in a recent issue of the journal Brain,Behavior and Immunity.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/244188.php

DISCLAIMERThis newsletter is for information purposes only and is notintended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Pleaseconsult your doctor for personal medical advice before taking anyaction that may impact on your health. The views expressed are not necessarily those of People LivingWith Cancer or those of the Editor.

“Don't defy the diagnosis - try to defy the outcome."

Norman Cousins quote from Head First: The Biology of Hope