10 Feb 2025

On average Botswana registers 1 600 cancer cases annually, with 70% of them being diagnosed too late.

This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise when delivering a keynote address at the Francistown Cancer Colour Run event Saturday.

Dr Modise said cancer was now responsible for seven per cent of all deaths in Botswana, and it was increasingly affecting younger generations, a sad reality which called for immediate action. He stated  that the most common cancers among females were cervical, breast, lymphoma, uterine and colorectal cancers whilst in males, the common ones were prostate, lymphoma, oesophageal, mouth and colorectal.

“Cancer is a rising scourge that has a devastating impact on individual lives, healthcare systems and even to economies of different countries and it requires a collective effort - a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach. As the new administration, we are committed to a primary healthcare approach where every Motswana will have access to regular screening for free, so that there is early diagnosis and treatment for those who turn out positive,” said Dr Modise,.

Founder of The Fighters Support Group, Ms Patricia Letlape said cancer affected people from all walks of life and their journeys were different, as such every experience and every battle fought was unique. Ms Letlape said despite the differences in backgrounds, culture or experience the community should be connected in the fight against cancer.

Ms Letlape, who is a cancer survivor, said cancer did not discriminate and neither should the fight against it.

“The community should support one another and push for better healthcare, early detection and effective treatment. The collective responsibility is to close gaps and ensure that everyone gets the support they need,” Ms Letlape said, underscoring that cancer awareness was the first step that should be followed by meaningful actions, regular screening, advocacy for better policies and standing by those affected.

Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital nursing officer, Ms Senyana Galeage said shortage of equipment for cancer screening remained a challenge in public healthcare facilities such that government ended up referring patients to private hospitals for better facilities.

An oncologist at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, Dr Sebathu Chiyapo said that more than 70 per cent of cancers were lifestyle induced. He added that sedentary lifestyle, and not eating a balanced diet were some of the factors that could lead to cancer. Dr Chiyapo advised the public to aspire for healthy lifestyles at all times and make sure they sought medical attention early to avoid treatment delays.

“The more cancer advances the more expensive it becomes to treat,” said Dr Chiyapo.

Ms Boteti Thokwane, a lung cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2019, said cancer was not the end of life. She added that she was on Chemotherapy treatment for 12 months and managed to recover. She advised those diagnosed with cancer to maintain hope and strength because it was a health condition just like any other and was treatable. ENDS