I spend 2 sessions at our community Hospice ( “Helderberg Hospice” ) every week and bring Palliative care to patients. Palliative Care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal of such therapy is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family and is provided by a team of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals who work together to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment.

Helderberg Hospice specifically offers care and support to those living with cancer, HIV/Aids, Motor Neurone Disease and any end-stage illness.

 See http://helderberghospice.org.za

The mainstay of Palliative Care is not to hasten or delay dying but to embrace quality of life. Recent developments are challenging this central ethical premise and we are in South Africa discussing the possibility of a new treatment option of assisted suicide.

We as a society need to reflect carefully on benefits and risks to our community of these new possible treatment options.

Dr Mark Hosking

 Cancer screening and early diagnosis remains the
most useful weapon in the fight against cancer as it can have a significant
impact on the morbidity and mortality associated with this dreaded diagnosis. 

The following is a list of common cancers and
screening methods used as well as appropriate ages to commence screening. Please
ask your doctor to assist  you if
  one of these is applicable to your current life stage.

 Cervical cancer:

 - PAP-smears should be initiated 3 years after
first vaginal intercourse but not later than 21 years of
age.

 - After this a PAP-smear should be done every 2
years if your doctor/pathology lab is using liquid-based cytology
  methods.

 Breast cancer:

 - A clinical breast exam should be performed
annually as part of your yearly check-up from the age of
20.

 -Yearly mammogram should be done from the age of
40.

 -In high risk individuals with a very prominent
family history screening with 
mammogram or MRI can be started as early as 30.

 Prostate cancer:

 - The prostate should be examined by digital
  rectal examination as well as a yearly blood test (PSA) from the age of 50;
  people with a strong family history should be screened from age
45.

 Colo-rectal cancer (Cancer involving the colon and/or rectum):

 - A routine colonoscopy should be
performed at age 50.

 -A flexible sigmoidoscopy can then be performed
every 5 years or a colonoscopy every 10 years.

 -A faecal occult blood test can be performed
annually.

 -If any of your first degree relatives have been diagnosed with
colo-rectal cancer routine testing should be started at age 40.

Skin cancer:

 -Please ask your doctor to routinely have a look
at any skin lesion that is worrying you, he will then asses for asymmetry, the
border, the colour and the diameter and will advise you based on this
  assessment.