Prof. Georgia Demetriou – Department of Oncology Wits University

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to medical oncologist Professor Georgia Demetriou, who is a senior consultant in the division of medical oncology at the University of the Witwatersrand and Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. Prof. Demetriou walks us through the inner workings of life as an oncologist and career pathways for women in medicine. We note that the scope of options for women has widened considerably. Currently, women represent approximately half of all working oncologists, however, only occupy an estimated 20% of leadership posts. Prof. Demetriou unpacks some of the risk factors and interventions associated with the three most common cancers affecting women: breast, cervical and colorectal. Some risks are genetic, others can be lessened, for example, by controlling diet (reducing saturated fat and refined sugar consumption), increasing exercise and vaccinating where possible. She emphasises the importance of regular screening to rule out or detect early signs of disease, remarking that under Covid-19 conditions many people have neglected annual check-ups. Prevention is always preferred to cure. We end the conversation noting that in today’s world women can be anything they want to be and strive for excellence. Tune in for more…