This was said by Member of Parliament for Ngami Mr Philemon Aaron at the Pink Umbrella walk organised by Okavango District leadership to mark the end of breast cancer awareness month on Friday.

Mr Aaron stressed the importance of early detection of breast cancer since it would help save lives, saying there was need for regular physical examination and screening for early detection and successful treatment.

He said that breast cancer was the most diagnosed in women with Sub Saharan Africa experiencing high mortality rates because most cases were detected late.

The contributing factors, he said were challenges such as limited awareness, stigma, inadequate screening programmes and delayed access to treatment.

He said the disease caused over 670 000 deaths globally in a year, noting however that early detection contributed to effective treatment and about 70 per cent chances of survival.

In Botswana, he said breast cancer was ranked among the highest number of cancer deaths, followed by cervical cancer.

He said advised people to regularly examine their breasts at least once a month and look for any changes such lumps and discharges from their breasts.

Meanwhile, MP Aaron said although breast cancer mainly affected women it equally affected men, therefore raising the need to have campaigns that targeted the boy child and men on breast cancer and other cancers affecting men such as prostate cancer.

He said such campaigns should sensitise men on the importance of regular screening and early detection since prostate cancer caused loss of lives in men as many lacked knowledge and thus failed to go for regular screening. ENDS