The Northern Cape Department of Health released these statistics as the world commemorated World Cancer Day on 4 February. 

The vast majority of these hundreds of new cases in this central South African province are that of breast cancer, at roughly 35% of the new cases. 

The second most prevalent cancer in the last 12 months, is that of the head and neck at 23,1% of the new cases detected. 

Cervical and prostate cancer are the third and fourth most prevalent types of cancer in the province, from these figures.

The department has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that patients in the province have access to cancer treatment irrespective of where they live, with the presence of two satellite clinics at the Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington, as well as the Kuruman Hospital, meant to alleviate the burden on the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley and ensure patients don’t have to travel far to access treatment.

The aforementioned satellite clinics are run by oncology-trained chemotherapy nurses who can administer the treatment. The province at the public level doesn’t appear to have a radiotherapy programme yet. The intention, however, is it do so soon.

The introduction of the satellite oncology clinics appears to have ensured compliance with treatment with over 3 094 breast, 603 head and neck as well as 489 cervical cancer patients going for their follow-ups regularly.

This is as Carte Blanche aired an episode on gene mutations being the cause of high bowel cancer figures in the Namaqualand area of the province.

The Northern Cape Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene, encourages “communities to empower themselves with knowledge and seek medical help promptly at any health facility in the province”.

OFM News