The focus of World Cancer Day, which is commemorated annually on 4 February, and International Childhood Cancer Day, commemorated on 15 February, is to bring awareness about cancer. South Africa’s cancer incidence is increasing – as is the case globally. Predictions for the next 10 years are that prostate, lung, cervical and breast cancer will increase dramatically.
What is also alarming is that haematological cancers associated with HIV will increase dramatically. People living with HIV now live longer due to successful ARV treatments, but are more at risk of cervical cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to their compromised immune systems. This will place a further burden on cancer services in the already crippled public sector. It is something that has to be planned for carefully.