11 Aug 2015

Women in Maun thronged Doctors Inn Private Hospital on Saturday for breast cancer examination to benefit from the free breast cancer examination as organized by Journey of Hope Botswana.

The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) embarks on a country wide awareness campaign annually to sensitize people on breast cancer and they chose to start in Maun and end in Gaborone this year.

In an interview, a 32-year-old Ms Kaze Gaborone said although she was aware of breast cancer self-examination, she never practiced that.

Ms Gaborone said she was thankful for the Journey of Hope awareness and will continue to be vigilant about breast cancer.

Another woman, a 26-year-old Ms Tshepiso Ditiro expressed her appreciation to Journey of Hope organisation, adding that she was not aware of self-breast examination before.

Journey of Hope Public Relations Manager Ms Onica Lekuntwane said their organization embarked on a country wide awareness campaign annually to sensitize the public.

Ms Lekuntwane said their message is ‘early detection saves lives,’ thus their sensitization to the public to know how to do self-breast examination regularly.

She said research has shown that 80 per cent of people were diagnosed with breast cancer at its latter stages in third world countries like Botswana, a situation which led to deaths.Ms Lekuntwane therefore said Journey of Hope aims to sensitise the public to curb late diagnosis and deaths caused by breast cancer.

She said they encourage people to ‘touch, look and check’ their breasts for signs of breast cancer, which included a lump in the breast, swelling, bloodish discharge from the nipples, tilted nipple and rash.

Ms Lekuntwane advised women to seek medical assistance if they experienced such, noting that women who came to their campaigns were blessed since they were examined for breast cancer at a free cost during the Journey of Hope awareness campaign by medical experts from Bokamoso Private Hospital.

She further said if those examined showed chances of breast cancer, they would be referred to Bokamoso Private Hospital for further tests as Biopsy and finally to Princess Marina Hospital for treatment. ENDS