Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)

The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is a leader in the fight against cancer since 1931. Our purpose is to lead the fight against cancer. Our mission is to be the preferred non-profit leader that enables research in lowering cancer risk, educating the public regarding symptoms, screening and risk reduction, and providing care and support to all those affected by cancer.

CANSA is committed to connecting people facing cancer with information, day-to-day help and much-needed emotional support. We aim to ensure that cancer survivors and their loved ones do not face cancer alone.

While we are not privy to medical diagnoses and the onus falls on the patient or their family (with their permission) to contact CANSA for assistance, we are here to support them through every step of their cancer journey.

Through the selfless support of our sponsors like yours, we can continue the fight against cancer in South Africa and advance closer to the goal of a cancer-free society in our generation.

OUR SERVICES
CANSA offers a wide range of services to those affected by cancer:
• Health Awareness Programmes - comprises health education campaigns centred on creating awareness of cancer symptoms, the importance of screening and lowering cancer risk.
• Mobile Health Clinics – bring awareness to men and women in rural areas who would otherwise not have access and operates on sponsored funds.
• Promote early detection - CANSA Care Centres countrywide offer screenings and early detection programmes.

CANSA ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE
• CANSA Care Centres - offer care and support services to those affected by cancer, including employee wellness programmes, stoma support, wigs, prostheses, assistive devices and medical equipment hire, clinical support, counselling (face-to-face and Tele Counselling), support groups and home-based care.
• CANSA Care Homes – provide patient care and support to the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients undergoing treatment.
• CANSA TLC Lodging – provides lodging and support services for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
• CANSA Help Desk - Toll free 0800 22 66 22.
• WhatsApp helplines – offer multilingual support services in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho and Siswati.
• Online support groups and platforms – help patients and loved one’s cope with a cancer diagnosis or connect with others walking a similar path as they fight cancer.
• Social media platforms and CANSA Website – make information available to the public.
• CANSA Tele-Counselling – offers a confidential, professional, cancer-related telephonic counselling service to cancer patients, caregivers and their families, and parents or guardians of children living with cancer. This service is free of charge and available in seven languages - English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana.

CANSA VOLUNTEERS
CANSA is a volunteer-driven organisation, relying on our trained volunteers to assist in delivering our services to local communities across South Africa. We have various volunteer opportunities and trainings available.

CANSA IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked goals designed to be a ‘blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs were introduced in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030. CANSA strives toward achieving these goals within our capabilities.

We have identified the Global Goals (SDGs) CANSA has contributed to, in some capacity, during the reporting period with an emphasis on Goals 3 (Good health and wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 8 (Decent Work and economic growth), 9 (Industry innovation and infrastructure), 10 (Reduced inequalities), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), 12 (Responsible consumption and production), 13 (Climate action), 14 (Life below water), 15 (Life on land), 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions), and 17 (Partnership for the goals).

CANCER SCREENINGS (Stats 2020/21)
• Over 54 210 conducted in total (with abnormalities referred accordingly).
• Conducted over 6 260 pap smears and facilitated 2 989 in partnership with the Department of Health (DoH).
• Carried out more than 20 570 clinical breast examinations.
• 8 848 Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests completed and 351 done in partnership with DoH.
• Over 3 010 skin examinations using the FotoFinder Mole Analysis device took place.
• Expanded workplace screening and wellness programmes.

HEALTH SCREENING, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS (Stats 2020/21)
• Approximately 40 727 individual information and education sessions conducted with screenings.
• Over 7 560 people assessed to determine their lifestyle risk, with 2 361 glucose tests performed for diabetes.
• More than 465 900 people reached through 1 738 talks and 4 531 exhibitions with the help of 795 health promotion volunteers.
• Over 150 radio talks hosted for cancer education.
• Distributed over 71 110 information leaflets to promote health awareness campaigns.

CANSA ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE
• More than 79 700 youth reached through 402 school programmes.
• Our CANSA Helpdesk responded to over 12 680 enquiries for support and information via telephone, WhatsApp, email, website and social media.

CURRENT PLANS AND THE FUTURE
CANSA’s service and income generation is managed and deployed centrally with national teams, placed across the country. We streamline and modernise our service and fundraising efforts regularly. We have CANSA Care Centres around the country with certain CANSA Care Centres operating as ‘Virtual CANSA Care Centres’ where employees work remotely to offer services within their surrounding communities assisted by willing volunteers.

Our country’s economic recovery post COVID-19 will take a few years. The need for our normal services continues and even more patients and caregivers need help. We are aware of our duty to continue to educate South Africa about the cancer burden and find innovative ways to help lower the cancer risk, while providing support and care to the communities we serve.