World Cancer Day: Experts say early detection can boost one’s chance of successful treatment
Tuesday is World Cancer Day and this year the focus is on shifting treatment to a more people-centred approach.
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CAPE TOWN - Making an appointment for a biopsy can be scary but experts say early detection can boost one’s chance of successful treatment.
Tuesday marked World Cancer Day, and this year the focus is on shifting treatment to a more people-centred approach.
Specialist surgeon Dr Maré Du Plessis from the Milnerton Mediclinic in Cape Town explains the most common causes of cancer.
"It's mostly related to the western style sort of lifestyle, obesity, smoking, alcohol use and poor diet, so lifestyle is the main reason for this increase in the trend we think.”
She adds that one’s age, gender, family history and personal risk factors all play a role in a cancer diagnosis.
"Breast cancer being the most common in South Africa and also worldwide and then colorectal cancer being the third most common cancer in South Africa.”