Past Events

Report on the 14th National Oncology Congress

The 14th National Congress of the South African Oncology Societies held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 19 to 22 February 2009 was by all accounts a huge success.

We were fortunate enough to have deputy minister Dr Molefi Sefularo officiate the opening. His speech left the audience with a belief that the ministry is not only aware of the major issues being faced by the Oncology fraternity, but is intent on addressing them. This stood in stark contrast to Prof Louis Goedhals' delivery of the inaugural Sealy-Falkson Honorary Lecture: 30 Years in Oncology in a changing political climate - we can only hope that the tide has indeed turned.

We had a total of 822 delegates attending, 212 being from the trade, 329 from the radiotherapy fraternity, 174 representing chemotherapy, 26 oncologists in training and 81 from allied professions. There were 21 delegates from other African countries, 11 from Europe and UK, and 10 from USA, Canada and Australia.

The format lent itself to allow delegates to follow a particular tract either disease or occupation specific, with special dedicated sessions for the various professions with Oncology Nursing and Oncology Social Work sharing a tract, similarly Medical Physicists and Radiotherapy, and Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology. We arranged a special IMRT workshop aimed at all involved in this rapidly emerging technology. There were 6 trade symposia run early morning and during lunchtimes where the pharmaceutical industry had an opportunity to showcase their latest innovations.

The conferences has become a major source of income supporting the activities of the professional societies, and this year was no different and again a huge success. Rhyno Kriek and his team deserve special thanks for their tireless efforts in making this congress yet another resounding success.