Cancer culture

Confronted with the real threat of prostate cancer, Neo struggles to face his uncertain future.

- LEZANNE JANSE VAN RENSBURG

According to the Cancer Association Of South Africa (CANSA), one in 17 men is diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It’s also one of the leading cancers to affect men globally and despite affecting millions of men across the country and the globe each year, the disease is still mired in stigma. This is the topic the Scandal! writers tackle this fortnight as the beloved Neo (Jerry Mofokeng) finds himself facing an uncertain future.

While it’s a serious issue, Jerry assures us it won’t be all doom and gloom for the respected elder, explaining that there will be lighter, more humorous moments as Neo battles to keep his health issues secret. “We show the lighter moments without necessarily playing for comedy. The lightness comes from very real moments, the biggest moment being Neo’s attempts to disguise his symptoms and diagnosis.”

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At first Neo isn’t aware of his cancer threat. “Neo realises his bladder cannot hold urine, but he doesn’t see this as a symptom of prostate cancer,” explains Jerry. “It’s only when he goes in for an unrelated examination that the cancer is brought to his attention.” The news from the doctors is crushing, leaving Neo unable to accept the reality of the situation. “He is in denial,” admits Jerry. But apart from being in denial, he also refuses to seek the proper treatment, and this leaves his grandson Tebello (Lithonolofatso Lithlakanaye) in a state of desperation and panic.