World Cancer Day 4 February 2012

Together it is Possible

The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) challenges every single South African to ask themselves: "What can I do about cancer?" This World Cancer Day on 4 February you can personally do something to change the lives of those touched by cancer.

World Cancer Day takes place every year and is the singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. World Cancer Day is an initiative of the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), through which they aim to help save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

Globally, every month 600 000 people die from cancer and many of these deaths could be avoided with increased governmental support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment programmes.

World Cancer Day 2012 has been themed "Together it is possible" because it’s only by every person, organisation, government individually doing their part that the world will be able to reduce premature deaths from cancer and other non-communicable diseases by 25% by 2025.

Says Sue Janse Van Rensburg, CANSA’s CEO,

“In 2011, CANSA pledged to collect signatures for the World Cancer Day declaration for a cancer-free society, and we’re grateful that over 33 000 people signed up as part of this global fight against cancer.  World Cancer Day reminds us that every person, group and government can do their bit to help reduce the burden of cancer.”  

CANSA encourages the following ways to help make a difference and help them fight cancer:  

As an individual
Start with yourself by making daily smart choices. Choose to stay out of the sun between 11:00 and 15:00, don’t smoke, follow a healthy, balanced eating plan and get regular exercise - read more here. 

• Sign our petition for the banning of tanning beds for under 18 year olds - click here 
• Support our ‘BPA Baby Bottle Exchange & Recycling Project’ to help keep babies safe.

We as a nation must stand together and with the help of the government take responsibility to make South Africa a healthy and cancer-smart country.

As a family
Look out for one another by setting an example and educating your loved ones. Parents, replace chips and chocolates in the kids’ lunch boxes with dried fruit and whole grain foods.

Take the whole family to your local shopping centre on 3 or 4 March and take part in CANSA’s 2012 Shavathon for a R50 donation for adults and R25 for children under 12 years. Go Sign up to volunteer to be a shaver or sprayer.
As a company, organisation, club or school
Know what your rights are in terms of the tobacco law and stand up for it. Invite CANSA staff to hold talks on health throughout the year and to conduct cancer screening for your employees. Educate, inform and encourage members, scholars and employees. You can go online right now and start a donation page on CANSA’s website and start raising money for the fight against cancer. Visit http://www.cansa.org.za/ or call toll-free 080 0 22 66 22.

 

Nicotine Free, Day 3

So, My Boerewors and I quit smoking on the 2nd of January and its Day 3 without nicotine.

I must say, for me, its easier than I thought because I did stop smoking with both my pregnancies and I was a wee bit stupid, okay, a lot stupid to start up again. 

But I enjoy smoking, yes its true and most smokers will tell you the same thing.  I miss the whole process of lighting up. 

I know my Boerewors misses it more than I do because he was a heavier smoker than I was.  Boerewors was probably on between 15 and 20 ciggies a day.  I was about half of that even on a day when I was smoking a lot!

However, the Boereworsbut has only been smoking for 8 years.  I've been a casual social smoker on and off since I was about 16.  That's over 20 years!  You tell me what is worse...

Yeah, its become a habit...sitting outside on my porch to have a fag and natter, but I decided that the habit has nearly no positives.  Its dirty, stinky and bad for you!

Poisoned lungs by the chemicals, lower oxygen levels in the body, depleting the body of vitamin C, poor immune system, lower bone density, higher chances of getting cancer, heart-disease or  emphysema.

Now I need to find something to make it all easier...

Do I substitute it with something else like chewing gum or sucking a pencil?  How do I keep myself busy and not think of smoking?  What are the triggers that make me want to light one up?

Tell me how you did it.  Now I'm talking about someone who gave up smoking and succeeded.  I'm not talking about how many times you've given up.  The first month is easy its kicking the habit for good that I want the secret recipe to.

A Daft Scots Lass' tip to stop smoking: douse yourself in petrol every day!

CANSA Shavathon 2010 - One Month to Go!!!

Wanna be a Volunteer again this year?

Click Here and register to volunteer at The Glen Shopping Centre.

or visit  http://www.shavathon.org.za/ to find a shopping centre nearest you and do your bit on 6 March 2010.

CAN SA make a difference? Of course we can!

If you can't volunteer yourself, get your company involved and get them to register on the website for spray and shaves at the workplace on Friday, 5 March 2010.   If you can't convince your company to get involved, simply go to their website and make a donation or help raise funds online or even.

Last Year at The Glen

South Africans from all over the country, family and friends, workplace staff, visitors, clients and suppliers can shave or spray in a multitude of colours and show solidarity with a cancer survivor on 5th & 6th March for a donation of R50 -  children under 12 pay R25.