Pretoria - MEC for Health and Social Development, Ntombi Mekgwe, is calling on Gautengers to learn more about cancer this month and to undergo cancer screening.
A campaign to screen, educate and treat people with cancer started on World Cancer Survivors' Day on Sunday and will continue throughout the month.
Cancer is one of the diseases that continue to devastate the lives of people yet it can be successfully treated if diagnosed early.
Cervical and breast cancer is common among women, while men usually develop prostate cancer. Leukemia is the most common childhood cancers and accounts for two thirds of all cases among children. The department has entered into a partnership with Children's Heamatology and Oncology Centre to improve awareness of childhood cancer.
The department has in the past year seen a remarkable increase in the percentage of women tested for breast and cervical. Whereas only 1 in 5 women were tested in 2007/08, the percentage has grown to 1 in 2 in 2010/11.
Mammography machines for the diagnosis of breast cancer have been installed at Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlote Maxeke, Helen Joseph, Steve Biko and Dr George Mukhari hospitals. A total of 12 797 mammographs were performed at these hospitals last year.
Screening for prostate cancer among men over the age of 45 is available at all hospitals and major clinics. A total of 2 124 men were screened for prostate cancer last year. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death among men in South Africa.
The most common risk factors include age (men over 50 are at risk), family history and unhealthy diet - food high in animal fat and protein.
Treatment involves surgery where the whole prostate gland is removed and radiation therapy is also done to destroy cancer cells.
