GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - September is International Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), between 800 and 1 000 South African children are diagnosed with cancer annually, with perhaps the same number again never diagnosed. This is often due to a lack of knowledge, and many children are diagnosed too late.
The mothers of two local survivors shared their experiences with the Advertiser, to help raise awareness.
Juan Marais (5) was just 13 months old when he was diagnosed with Wilm's tumour. His mother Cay-Lynn says she noticed that when Juan was learning to walk he would often stop and hold his stomach.
"I thought he was just scared to fall," she explained. When she saw blood in his urine, she took him to the doctor, and an ultrasound showed a tumour on his kidney. The kidney was removed, and he underwent six months of chemotherapy and radiation. "It was very stressful to see my child going through the treatment," says Cay-Lynn.
Juan still needs to have check-ups every six months at Red Cross Children's hospital in Cape Town, and has some developmental delays. He is unable to speak properly and finds it difficult to interact with others because of this. Nonetheless, he can attend nursery school and loves playing cricket with his cousin.
Alex Short at the annual hostel supper at Union earlier this month.
Alex Short (9) also had a kidney removed due to a Wilm's tumour, when she was five. "She had no symptoms at all," says her mother Janine.
"When she was playing with her brother, they fell and he landed on top of her." The next day, Alex was in terrible pain. After a scan, the GP immediately sent her to hospital, where she spent two nights in ICU. After she was flown to Red Cross, she underwent a five-hour operation, as the tumour had burst.
Her treatment involved concurrent chemotherapy and radiation, as well as reflexology and homoeopathy. She became scared of needles and was self-conscious when she lost her hair.
Despite serious setbacks, Alex was able to start school at the usual age and is now in Grade Three at Union Prep. Janine urges parents to follow their instincts regarding their children's health, and "rather be safe than sorry". (A photo of Alex appears on the front page.)
Both families are extremely grateful to the Graaff-Reinet Cancer Association for the support given to them during the treatment.
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