It was with great pride that CANSA Rustenburg officially opened the doors to the Remendentia Interim Home on the 2nd November 2007. 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 spread-ing 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 pol-icy we have interim homes / over-night accommodation for patients coming for treatment in all prov-inces alongside cancer treatment facilities.” Mrs Strauss said.

Planning for the Remendentia In-terim 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 Man-ager said in her speech thanking who worked so hard on the project.

“In modern medicine, there are new ways to de-tect and treat many forms of cancer that once were considered untreatable,” Mrs Strauss con-cluded.

Photo courtesy of Rustenburg Herald.

R E M E N D E N T I A I N T E R I M H O M E O P E N E D !

C A N S A N O R T H W E S T & L I M P O P O

C A N C E R S M A R T P E O P L E A L W A Y S M A K E S M A R T C H O I C E S

E D I T I O N 2 - D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7

S M A R T C H O I C E

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

C A N S A T E A M T O C L I M B M O U N T K I L I M A N J A R O

2

H U N T I N G F O R C A N S A

2

S U N S C R E E N A N D S K I N T Y P E S

3

T H A N K Y O U A B S A !

4

S T E R V R O U V A N B L O E M H O F

4

P A S O P V I R D I E S O N

5

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R O V I N -C I A L M A N A G E R

6

R E L A Y F O R L I F E - P O T C H E F S T R O O M L A U N C H E D 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 My-burgh and Buks, testifying that there is al-ways HOPE. The committee lit the Luminaria

candles while one of the performers sang “Light your candle”. Guests were entertained by wonder-ful 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 Gey-

ser can be contacted on 082 854 3804 for more

information.

The CANSA Kili Team will be climbing the moun-tain 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 climb-ers, Mr. Pieter and Mrs. Marinda J van Rens-burg, 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

will climb to the highest peak, Uhuru, using the Machame route – the climb will start on 18th 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:

ABSA Bank: Boom Street

Branch Code: 632 /005

Account number: 01020030905

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 Man-ager, Mrs. Gerda Strauss, CANSA NW/Limpopo, PO Box 20060, Protea Park, 0305 and telephone – 014 5330694. Should any member of the public wish to contact Audrey David directly, please do so per cell – 082 507 8067.

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!!

C A N S A T E A M T O C L I M B M O U N T K I L I M A N J A R O !

HUNTING FOR CANSA

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 chil-dren to join the fight against cancer and to win prizes too!

Carita Bouwer can be contacted on 082 947 0865 for further information.

CANSA Vryburg will be holding a Hunters’ raffle until June 2008, with great prizes up for grabs:

• 1st prize – Gemsbok

• 2nd prize – Rooibok

• 3rd prize – Springbuck

Tickets are available at CANSA Vryburg offices at R100-00 each.

P a g e 2 S M A R T C H O I C E

Toktokkie recently visited the

children of The Garden of Chil-

dren Nursery School in Brits. To

arrange for Toktokkie to come

and visit your school please

contact your local CANSA of-

fice.

These pupils of the Logagane

Primary School recently took

part in CANSA Mafikeng’s Breast

Cancer Walk, despite their own

poor living conditions.

Mr Gideon Kruger bought

this signed Blue Bulls

rugby jersey at an auction

at the CANSA Ellisras

Men’s Evening.

CANSA Rustenburg visited the Lost City for the ‘People’s / Mense Magazine Jive 2007’ on the 26th October 2007.

The theme for the day was ‘The-fun-in-the-sun’ and Hosiame Sebalo (CANSA Health Pro-grammes 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.

C A N S A R U S T E N B U R G S U N S M A R T A T T H E L O S T C I T Y

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 in-

cludes wrinkles and mottled or uneven skin

pigment. Regardless of your skin type, it is important

to protect your skin against the sun by limit-

ing sun exposure and wearing sunscreen and

sun-protective clothing when outside.

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 rou-tine use of a broad spectrum sunscreen protec-tion factor (SPF) of 15 or greater for all people, regardless of the colour of the skin.

Skin colour is determined by the number, dis-tribution 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 pig-ment (type 1) to very dark pigmented (type 6).

It is true that dark skin provides some protec-tion against sun damage and people with light skin types have a much higher incidence of skin cancer than do people with dark skin

D O I N E E D S U N S C R E E N I F I H A V E A D A R K S K I N ?

P a g e 3 E D I T I O N 2 - D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7

“People with dark

skin, hair and

eyes can and do

get skin cancer”

Classifications of skin types

Skin type Description

Type 1 Always burns, never tans (pale white skin)

Type 2 Always burns easily, tans minimally (white skin)

Type 3 Burns moderately, tans uniformly (Light brown skin) Type 4 Burns minimally, always tans well (Moderate brown skin)

Type 5 Rarely burns, tans profusely (dark brown skin)

Type 6 Never burns (deeply pigmented dark brown to black skin)

Skin type Description

Type 1 Always burns, never tans (pale white skin)

Type 2 Always burns easily, tans minimally (white skin)

Type 3 Burns moderately, tans uniformly (Light brown skin) Type 4 Burns minimally, always tans well (Moderate brown skin)

Type 5 Rarely burns, tans profusely (dark brown skin)

Type 6 Never burns (deeply pigmented dark brown to black skin)

Classifications of skin types

C O P I N G W I T H C A N C E R D U R I N G T H E H O L I D A Y S Generally people view the holidays as a time to cele-brate, 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 com-plex 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 some-times 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 en-

ergy 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 pres-sures 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 restau-rant.

Be an innovative shopper. Use direct selling cata-logues 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 feel-ings with a loved one, friend or professional counsel-lor.

Source: Cancer Care www.cancercare.org

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 pro-gramme, ABSA also donated R50 000 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 Re-gional Manager) and the ABSA team.

Ansie Groenewald en haar span van die Bloem-val 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 vrug-

bare 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 Rob-

erts.

T H A N K Y O U A B S A !

C A N S A O N D E R S T E U N I N G S G R O E P K O O R D I N E E R D E R G E K I E S A S S T E R V R O U V A N B L O E M H O F

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 082 520 8458.

Page 4 S M A R T C H O I C E

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 R15 000 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 op-portunity to thank EDCON Groups for their generosity.

Ansie Groenewald, Heleen Muller,

Naeela Cajee (CANSA) en Carita

Bouwer (CANSA).

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 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 018 – 384 9264 or 082 520

8452.

Velkanker is die algemeenste tipe kanker in

Suid-Afrika met 20 000 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, hoof-

saaklik 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 Aus-

tralië 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 Sonverbru-

inde vel is nie ‘n teken van gesondheid nie; dit

is ‘n teken van velskade.”

Die eerste beskermingsmetode is klere. Digge-

weefde 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 besker-

mende swempakkies, strandklere, hemde, ens.

wat UV beskermende eienskappe het. Die

maatstaf vir materiaal is UPF (Ultraviolet Protec-

tion 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 ultravio-

letstrale 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 digge-

weefde 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 Febru-

arie 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 vrywil-

ligers, 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 ge-

bruik en weet dat die produkte in Suid-Afrika

getoets en goedgekeur was vir hul besker-

mingsvlakke.

Maak seker dat sonskermmiddels wel breë-

spektrum beskermingsvermoë het, wat bete-

ken dat dit teen UVA en UVB beskerm. UVA

veroorsaak hoofsaaklik vroeë veroudering

van die vel en UVB verbranding of verbruin-

ing. 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 uni-

form 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 by-

eenkomste.

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 vel-

kanker, verdubbel . Anders as wat alge-

meen aanvaar word berei sonbeddens en

sonlampe NIE jou vel voor vir sonblootstel-

ling 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, onge-wone merke of vlekke en moesies.

P A S O P V I R D I E S O N

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.

Page 5 S M A R T C H O I C E

The Cancer Association of South Africa

7 Olienhout Street

Protea Park

Rustenburg 0300

P O Box 20060

Protea Park 0305

Phone: 014 533 0694

Fax: 014 533 1052

E-mail: cstumke@cansa.org.za

C A N S A N O R T H W E S T & L I M P O P O

Dear CANSA friends & patients,

Another year has come and gone - Another year with its own smiles and tears.

For us at CANSA, it has been a rewarding year, knowing that we have made a differ-

ence 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.

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 2008.

Yours sincerely

Gerda Strauss

Provincial Manager

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R O V I N C I A L M A N A G E R N O R T H W E S T L I M P O P O : M S . G E R D A S T R A U S S

CANSA OFFICES:

Provincial Office: 014 - 533 0694

Rustenburg Region: 014 - 594 2424

Mafikeng Region: 018 - 384 9264

Vryburg Region: 053 - 927 6035

Klerksdorp Region: 018 - 468 2038

Potchefstroom Region: 018 - 294 8253

Modimolle Region: 014 - 717 4741

Polokwane Region: 015 - 297 1268

Toll Free Number: 0800 22 66 22

For comments or contributions, contact The Editor, Charmaine Stumke at 014-533 0694

or e-mail cstumke@cansa.org.za

WE’RE ON THE WEB:

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

CANSA North West and Limpopo

is pleased to welcome Adelé

Voges as the new Regional Man-

ager of CANSA Rustenburg.