The non-profit organisation, ’Just Breathe in Care of Cancer’ with company registration number 2022 / 695346 / 08, was founded by a multidisciplinary team of oncology, radiology, general surgery, and pathology in the Garden Route to provide support to breast cancer patients in the region. Patients with cancer can feel overwhelmed and may experience emotional trauma in dealing with their treatment and circumstances. Although remarkable efforts have been made in treatment excellence, the already overburdened treating clinicians are challenged to find sufficient time to meet the extensive demands and expectations of patients for communication, education, and support. In addition, these clinicians have limited communication materials at their disposal to offer patients.

The ‘Just Breathe in Care of Cancer’ non-profit organization was born out of the need to provide present-day clinically validated communication and appropriate emotional support to cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment. They need to feel valued and cared for, and require a clear understanding of their condition, the upcoming treatments, and the products, services, and support at their disposal as they embark on this journey. Since its formation, the team has established traction by running patient focus groups, holding multidisciplinary meetings, creating a memorable brand, and designing and distributing cancer communication and care packages across the cancer treatment cycle to patients diagnosed in the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region, and conducting fundraising events with local radio stations, newspapers, and community groups to generate funds for cancer care packages.