03 Nov 2019

Breast cancer is still the second major cause of death in Botswana after cervical cancer.

Speaking during the breast cancer awareness held in Francistown recently, Ms Samba Nyirenda of Francistown Women Institute said though breast cancer usually affected women, men could also be diagnosed with the disease.

The disease usually affects women aged between 35 and 45 years and body mass index is one of the risk factors that can cause breast cancer, she said.

“Young overweight women are at a lesser risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer as compared to older overweight women who can easily be diagnosed with it,” Ms Nyirenda said.

She said Botswana had experienced an increase in chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer hence people should watch their diet and exercise regularly.

Giving a keynote address, former mayor of Francistown, Ms Sylvia Muzila said breast cancer awareness was based on the vision of self-reliance which encouraged everyone to take care of their bodies and breasts.

She said since breast cancer affected both men and women, it required both parties to stand together in the fight against the epidemic.

Ms Muzila said worldwide around 1.38 million people suffered from breast cancer and that there were  major challenges surrounding it.

She said the society at large needed to be alerted about the disease so that they could all stand together and fight it.

Ms Muzila said information about breast cancer needed to be disseminated in a similar manner that was used during the time of HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Botswelelo Clinic matron, Ms Josephine Mothupi said the event aimed to spread information about breast cancer to the society.

Furthermore, she said the event was also aimed at encouraging early testing to reduce medical treatment costs.

Ms Mothupi encouraged all the residents of Greater Francistown to use Botswelelo clinic services as it now had a breast cancer specialist.

For her part, Kgosi Tshegofatso Setumo of Donga said women needed to take doctors’ advice seriously by having regular check-ups and also visiting halth facilities if they found any suspicious lumps on their breasts . ENDS