Building on 40 Years of Cancer Data: A Shared Commitment to Better Cancer Care

Last week held a special occasion as we gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the National Cancer Registry (NCR) of South Africa. Forty years is more than a milestone. It represents four decades of commitment to documenting South Africa’s cancer burden. Building an evidence base that helps us understand the cancer landscape in our country is essential for the creation and implementation of effective and equitable cancer control policy.

The event brought together esteemed leaders and stakeholders from across the cancer and health ecosystem. We had representatives from the National Department of Health, Dr. Busisiwe Ndlovu, Director of Non-communicable Diseases, and her deputy, Bilqees Sayed, as well as the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)’s Executive Director Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ismail and other key institutions working to strengthen cancer surveillance and care. I was excited to also see Salome Meyer from GCCA member organisation Cancer Alliance, Zodwa Sithole from CANSA, as well as Belinda Wagner from Living with Cancer, also a member of GCCA.

Among the distinguished guests was Ms. Anne Korir, Head of the IARC-GICR Centre of Expertise / Nairobi Cancer Registry, whose presence also highlighted the importance of regional collaboration and learning across the African continent.

One of the key conversations emerging from the symposium was not simply about the data we have today, but about how we build on the strong foundation that has already been laid to develop an even richer picture of cancer in South Africa.

I believe that the leadership of the NCR Dr. Mazvita Muchengeti is forward-thinking. She recognises the value of lived experience and that the patient voice is an important step towards ensuring that the cancer story is not told through numbers alone.

Cancer data tells us about incidence, trends and patterns. But people with lived experience can help us understand what sits behind those numbers. The realities of navigating the health system, the barriers encountered along the cancer pathway, the impact of delayed diagnosis and treatment, and the gaps that may not always be visible in the data. Bringing these perspectives together creates a much richer picture.

We are grateful for the opportunity topartner with the National Cancer Registry in our shared commitment to improving colorectal cancer care. This collaboration is a reminder that meaningful change does not happen in isolation. Global health solutions cannot be developed from a distance. They have to be informed by what communities and health systems are experiencing locally. GCCA's work in South Africa demonstrates how country-level partnerships can contribute to global learning. The insights we gain through our collaboration with the National Cancer Registry help us better understand how data, community engagement, screening, and policy intersect. We can carry those lessons into our global work while recognizing that every country will need to adapt them to its own context.

The Global Colon Cancer Association was honoured with a recognition award for the work we do. It is a wonderful affirmation of the work being done to ensure that the patient and advocacy voice is part of the broader cancer conversation. We receive this recognition with gratitude but also with renewed responsibility. There is still much work to be done.

Congratulations to the National Cancer Registry on 40 years of an important contribution to South Africa’s cancer response. Here’s to building on the foundation and making the next 40 years count even more.