09 Sep 2013

Journey of Hope Botswana crew and riders held a breast cancer awareness campaign in Selebi Phikwe recently.

The event was organised by volunteers under the Journey of Hope campaign to sensitise women about cancer and conduct breast examinations. 

The public relations officer of Journey of Hope, Ms Nichola Holgate said the organisation started in 2009 with the aim of educating people about breast cancer and its treatment.

She said they have embarked on the ‘Big Journey’ since 2010 where ladies ride across the country on pink scooters visiting villages and towns with the objective of sensitising people about breast cancer. 

She said this year they have worked closely with the government where they received support.  

She said in villages and towns they visited they held campaigns at clinics and arranged meetings at kgotla’s and parking areas in malls.

She said holding campaigns in clinics and customary courts closed the communication gap between their organisation and communities.  She said many people attended the campaigns where they held discussions about the treatable disease.

“We are achieving our goal in spreading awareness about breast cancer,” she said. She also explained that in Selebi Phikwe they were impressed with the turnout. She acknowledged local authorities and health officials of the town for making the occasion a success.

Meanwhile, Mrs Keletso Modise, 61, who is a breast cancer survivor, said more women need to be informed about the disease, and be trained on how to check for lumps in their breasts. She said although the government has awareness campaigns, many women are not well informed about breast cancer, especially those living in villages.

She said in most instances women in remote areas go to hospital when it was too late and end up losing their lives. 

“I was diagnosed with cancer in September 2011 and started chemotherapy in October up to February last year, and it was so hard,” she said, adding that after chemotherapy, she started radiation because the disease was spreading.

She said she completed radiation in August the same year. She also had her whole breast removed to avoid the spread of the disease. 

“My experience with cancer was very painful because after finding out that I had cancer, I felt like I was given a death sentence. Going through therapy was also stressful and painful, but I managed to beat the cancer because I am a survivor though I still feel some pain. With support from my family and friends, I managed to get through the ordeal. My family was affected by my sickness as well because they feared for my life,” she said.

She said her advice to all Batswana is to keep checking for lumps in their breasts and to go for medical checkups, adding that the government provides all the necessary assistance for free. Another cancer survivor, Mrs Sandi Field said she was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 when she found a lump in her breast.  She went for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  She said she developed a rash which later became a lump and she found out that the cancer was not cleared. She went for another surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. “I had to have the whole breast removed and muscle as well because the cancer had spread into the muscle area,” she said.

“Once I felt well enough, I joined the ‘Journey of Hope’ to sensitise other women in Botswana about the disease,” she said.  After holding the campaign in Selebi Phikwe, the ‘Journey of Hope’ proceeded to Sefhophe and other parts of the country.  The journey ended on Friday. ENDS