Timely breast cancer surgery at George Hospital

GEORGE NEWS - George Provincial Hospital at the weekend became one of five hospitals in South Africa where Project Flamingo has been rolled out.

The aim of the project is to provide timely cancer surgery to breast cancer patients at government hospitals, where the waiting times can be extremely long.

Four patients of the George Hospital oncology unit underwent successful breast surgery on Saturday morning. Three ladies had full mastectomies and one a lumpectomy.

Capetonian Dr Liana Roodt, the founder, director and surgeon of Project Flamingo, was here to launch the project and take part in the surgeries.

According to Dr Chanel Chang-foot of George Hospital, who headed up the local operating team, these patients would have had to wait two months for surgery.

"Cancer is such a horrible diagnosis, but I think the support and hope of a recovery that we are trying to give through this project, can help make patients' journey easier. Their surgery was successful and all four patients have gone home."

Posing for a photo before the surgeries, from left: Ingrid Watkins (who has been supporting the patients through Reach for Recovery and Wings of Hope), Michelle Rennie (Project Flamingo executive director), Dr Liana Roodt (founder, director and surgeon of Project Flamingo), and three of the patients, Vanessa Botha (from Great Brak), Letesia Adams (from Ladismith) and Grace Ruiters (from George). On the far right is Pamela Jacobs, also a volunteer from Reach for Recovery and Wings of Hope. Photo: Alida de Beer

She says the project will have a ripple effect by creating theatre space for general surgeries, for which the waiting period can be up to two years.

Roodt had compliments for George Hospital and its staff, and was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm, expertise and organisational discipline and structures she found here.

Changfoot said they will be aiming to complete three more catch-up theatre lists for the rest of the year.

"We will probably do six patients at a time. I have to give all the credit to my team for their motivation and the day-to-day care of patients, also by the rehabilitation team. Since the launch of the project, there has been a lot of enthusiasm and interest from other doctors and staff and there is definitely room for expansion in the future. We thank Dr Roodt for coming to George."

Roodt began the project in 2010 at Groote Schuur with the help of friends and colleagues.

She had been deeply touched by the plight of patients needing urgent surgery after a cancer diagnosis, but having to wait for months and also doing so in isolation without any support.

She and other volunteer medical staff started giving their expertise and time at no charge, working on weekends and public holidays.

The project has expanded to Tygerberg, Livingstone and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals. Roodt has a private practice in Cape Town and works at the Groote Schuur Breast and Endocrine Unit.

The local operating team members with Dr Liani Roodt, the founder, director and surgeon of Project Flamingo. From left are Sr Maria Lomberg, Sr Evelyn Ewerts, Sr Avril Ntoni, Dr Anna Wang (back), Dr Liani Roodt, Dr Alista Easton (anaesthetist) and Dr Chanel Changfoot, surgeon and leader of the local team. Photo: Project Flamingo

Pamper packs

In addition to providing surgery, Project Flamingo also provides lovely pamper packs to new breast cancer patients that contain some personal care products, snacks and other necessities.

Roodt, accompanied by Project Flamingo's executive director Michelle Rennie, brought 67 such pamper packs for George Hospital. Rennie said the attractive cloth bags used for the pamper packs are manufactured in George.

The patients who underwent breast cancer surgery on Saturday at George Hospital received a lot of warm encouragement and support, and the team had gone to a lot of trouble to make their experience less harrowing. Photo: Project Flamingo