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TOBEKA DAKI: DENIED A CHANCE TO LIVE
On World Cancer Day in 2016 (4 February) the Fix the Patent Laws coalition in South Africa launched the Campaign for Access to Trastuzumab to advocate for broad access to the WHO-recommended essential treatment for early stage and metastatic HER2+ breast cancer[i]....
Cancer Alliance Advocacy Toolkit published
Cancer Alliance Advocacy Toolkit overview released In support of World Cancer Day 2017 the Cancer Alliance announces the release of the Cancer Alliance Advocacy Toolkit, linked to the #letstalkaboutcancer campaign. This unique Advocacy Toolkit will be made...
ACCESS TO CANCER TREATMENT – SURVEY
Have you or someone that you know struggled to access cancer treatment in South Africa? You are invited to participate in research on the problems experienced in obtaining treatment for cancer in South Africa, by completing either of the following online surveys. Each...
VISION Cancer Newsletter – January 2017
VISION Newsletter January 2017
News on the next Cancer Buddy training course in Johannesburg on 18 February 2017; CanSurvive buddies distributing Christmas gifts at the Charlotte Maxeke chemo clinic; Looking good when dealing with cancer; Revisiting the right to assisted suicide and euthanasia; and much much more.
Let’s Talk About Cancer
Listen to Linda Greeff, Founding member of the Cancer Alliance, speaking about the Let’s Talk About Cancer campaign.
Registration now open for the 2017 Lace Up for Cancer event
Register online at www.justonline.co.za or download and print this entry form.
Vision Cancer Newsletter – November 2016
VISION Newsletter November 2016
News on the Fix The Patent Laws Coalition; the 2016 CanSurvive Celebration of Life breakfast; the CancerSupport@Centurion Group; West Rand Old Oak Hospice opens; and much much more.
VISION Coping with cancer : September 2016
VISION Coping with Cancer newsletter for September 2016 In this issue: The increased risk of being overweight Wings members arrived in style at the fund raiser "Jazz in the Garden" organised by the Rotary Club in Parktown on 21 August. Finding and evaluating online...
TIMELINE OF ACCESS TO TRASTUZUMAB IN SOUTH AFRICA
People are dying because big pharmaceutical companies like Roche are doing everything possible to exploit any loopholes which enable the sale of life-saving medicine for obscene profits. This timeline of Trastuzumab—a breast cancer medicine developed through public and private funding many decades ago—tells the story of the long and ongoing…
WHY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA WILL HELP NOT HURT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN THE COUNTRY
Sensible reforms to South Africa’s patent laws will not harm the economy or inhibit domestic innovation. To the contrary, in this paper we provide evidence that sensible reforms can both stimulate the economy and bolster innovation – all while improving the access that people living in South Africa have to…
MAVERICK CITIZEN: HEALTH Dying for Treatment: The struggle for affordable breast cancer medicines in South Africa
Across the world, October is marked as breast cancer month. It is an opportunity to create awareness, educate people and provide support for breast cancer survivors and those close to them. In South Africa, more than 10 dedicated breast cancer organisations do their bit. No other single cancer in South…
Cancer Alliance publishes the first
fact sheet on biosimilars in South Africa
Biosimilars are pharmaceutical products that are almost identical copies of existing medicines. Cancer Alliance publishes the first fact sheet on biosimilars in South Africa. The approval and availability of biosimilars will influence access and affordability of lifesaving medicines. Patients, clinicians and funders need to informed about these new opportunities to ensure that patients always have…
SANCDA LETTER AND REPORT TO MINISTER OF HEALTH
Letter and Report to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, from the South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Please download and read the following two important documents: Letter to the new Minister of Health requesting urgent consultation and proposing important interventions in support of transition consistent with the SDGs and…
BREAST CANCER FACT SHEETS
Download the following Fact Sheets: https://canceralliance.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Breast-Cancer-Symptoms-Fact-Sheet-V0.pdf https://canceralliance.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Breast-Cancer-Risk-Factors-Fact-Sheet-V0.pdf
PATIENT STORY: RETHA WESSELS
RETHA WESSELS, 57DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE MYELOMA “I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2012, and in November applied to my medical scheme for a stem cell transplant. They indicated that I first required chemotherapy treatment with a co-payment of about R40,000. After complying, stem cell treatment coverage was approved…
SUE JOHNSON SPEAKS ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND LENALIDOMIDE
Sue Johnson and Lenalidomide Sue Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and with Multiple Myeloma in 2014. While she was initially able to access a generic lenalidomide treatment from India on a Section 21 authorisation from the Medicines Control Council at a price of about R5000 per month,…
PATIENT STORY: JAYNE HEWISON
Jayne Hewison, diagnosed with multiple myeloma I am an 8 year survivor of Multiple Myeloma, an as-yet incurable cancer of the blood. I’ve had 2 stem cell transplants and don’t have much alternative to treatment with lenalidomide. Towards the end of 2016, while being treated in Kwazulu Natal by a…
PATIENT STORY: GRANT DAVIES
Grant Davies, diagnosed with multiple myeloma In April 2014, I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. I was 43 at the time, a husband, and father to a 5 year old. My treatment included radiation, chemotherapy, and two stem cell transplants. I had a good response,…
PATIENT STORY: VENO GOVENDER
Veno Govender, diagnosed with multiple myeloma My name is Veno Govender. I’m from South Africa in the city of Cape Town. A plasmacytoma was found in my right humerus in December 2016. Since then I have had a humerus replacement, Chemo and a SCT Further to that upon all the…
PATIENT STORY: TEBOHO SHAI
Teboho Shai, diagnosed with multiple myeloma I was diagnosed with stage 3 B Multiple Myeloma at age 57 in April 2016 and consequently became paralysed. At the time I was living in Pretoria self employed as a consultant. I am married to Veliswa and I’m a proud father of 6…
MOTIVATION FOR: PROMPT APPROVAL OF TRASTUZUMAB BIOSIMILARS TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN THE MARKET
17 July 2019: Cancer Alliance submits a motivation to SAHPRA for the prompt approval of trastuzumab biosimilars to promote competition in the market. The Cancer Alliance of South Africa submits this memorandum in support of its request that SAHPRA promptly register biosimilars of the breast cancer medicine trastuzumab for which…
LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN FOR ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LENALIDOMIDE
Minister Mkhize must ensure access to cancer medicine that WHO now considers “essential” Johannesburg (9 July 2019) — It was announced today that lenalidomide, a lifesaving medicine to treat multiple myeloma, has been included on the latest edition of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Essential Medicines List (EML). Welcoming the…
SANCDA LETTER AND REPORT TO MINISTER OF HEALTH – JUNE 2019
Letter and Report to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, from the South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Please download and read the following two important documents: Letter to the new Minister of Health requesting urgent consultation and proposing important interventions in support of transition consistent with the SDGs and…
CANCER ALLIANCE PUBLISHES SECTION 4 OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT ON THE NEW BREAST CANCER POLICY: TREATMENT & PALLIATIVE CARE
Breast Cancer Control Policy 2017 25th February 2019 The Cancer Alliance today publishes the fourth and final part of its series on the Breast Cancer Control Policy with Section 4: Treatment & Palliative Care South Africa’s new Breast Cancer Control Policy is a vital document aimed at prioritising breast cancer…
CANCER ALLIANCE CALLS FOR AFFORDABLE LENALIDOMIDE
Cancer Alliance calls for access to affordable lenalidomide for public and private sector patients in South Africa EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15 Many cancer patients in South Africa do not have access to affordable cancer medicines – many of which are available in other countries at a fraction of the…
CANCER ALLIANCE PUBLISHES SECTION 3 OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT ON THE NEW BREAST CANCER POLICY: ACCESS TO CARE
Breast Cancer Control Policy 2017 14th December 2018 The Cancer Alliance today publishes the third part of its series on the Breast Cancer Control Policy with Section 3: Access to Care. South Africa’s new Breast Cancer Control Policy is a vital document aimed at prioritising breast cancer awareness, prevention, treatment…
WHAT IS UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE?
Universal health coverage (UHC) ensures all people, everywhere, can access the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It is a fundamentally political goal rooted in the human right to health. It is also one of the smartest investments any country can make. Why Universal Health Coverage? Health…
OPEN LETTER TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTH PRODUCTS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (SAHPRA) ON ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE TRASTUZUMAB TREATMENT FOR WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH HER2+
11 December 2018 Prof Helen Rees Chairperson: SAHPRA Dear Professor Rees and officials at SAHPRA, This letter could have been composed by ANY of the women in South Africa, diagnosed with HER2+ Breast Cancer who have been denied access to lifesaving treatment of Herceptin® by their private medical funder due to…
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