A team of Cape Town specialists has just marked a groundbreaking medical first for the country – one that could change how certain cancers are treated going forward!

Cape Town, South Africa (27 March 2026) – Doctors at UCT Private Academic Hospital have just performed an incredible medical milestone!

Dr Gercois Human, Dr Jateel Kassim, Dr Gareth Bydawell and the Cape Town Interventional Radiology team successfully used cryoablation to treat cancer that had returned after surgery.

It’s the first time this technique has been used locally for this type of cancer spread.

Cryoablation, in simple terms, uses extremely cold temperatures to freeze and destroy cancer cells. Guided by advanced imaging, doctors can target tumours with precision, without the need for major surgery.

In this case, the patient had previously undergone treatment for papillary thyroid carcinoma, a common form of thyroid cancer. While the original tumour had been removed, the cancer later returned in the form of secondary tumours elsewhere in the body, a process known as metastasis.

Using cryoablation, the medical team were able to directly treat these tumours by freezing them, offering a less invasive option with the potential for faster recovery and fewer complications.

It’s a significant moment not just for the team involved but for cancer care in South Africa as a whole!

Treatments like this are changing what’s possible, especially for patients facing recurrence,
where options can often feel limited.

While this is just one case, it opens the door to broader use of cryoablation in treating the spread of certain forms of cancer locally, giving patients access to groundbreaking care without needing to look abroad.

Sources: Linked above.

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Chronic knee pain sufferers may soon have another option closer to home after Cape Town doctors completed South Africa’s first Genicular Artery Embolization procedure.

Cape Town, South Africa (16 February 2026) –  Another first in South African medicine. This week, the country’s first Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) procedure was performed by Dr Dale Creamer and the Cape Town Interventional Radiology team at Mediclinic Constantiaberg.

This successfully marks the first advanced, minimally invasive procedure for chronic knee pain available nationally.

“Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. During GAE, microscopic particles are delivered via a catheter to selectively block small, inflamed blood vessels in the knee lining. This reduces inflammation and alleviates pain,” shares Cape Town Interventional Radiology.

Dr Dale trained in Interventional Radiology at the University of Calgary in Canada and later refined the GAE technique in Europe before bringing the expertise home.

“It is an extremely exciting time for Interventional Radiology in South Africa as we continue to pioneer growth within the specialty,” says Dr Dale. “Our goal is to provide patients with access to the same advanced, evidence-based treatments available in leading healthcare systems around the world – and we are beginning to see that vision realised.”

The milestone expands treatment options for patients who may not yet qualify for knee replacement surgery or who are looking for alternatives to long-term pain medication.

“For the first time in many months I could sleep without having a pillow between my knees. I could get up normally without having to hold onto something. No pain at all in the knees, only the area by my groin a little ache. But otherwise I’m feeling good. Say a big thank you to Dr Creamer and his team for making me feel so special, comfortable, and well cared for. Thank you for going that extra mile.” shared the first South African patient to receive the procedure. 

The Cape Town Interventional Radiology team says they are committed to bringing innovation home so South Africans don’t have to travel overseas to access world-class, evidence-based care.

It’s a first for the country and a hope for patients managing chronic knee pain.

Sources: Linked above.

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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