Breast Cancer Surgical Marathon Reduces backlog
12 Oct 2026
For a breast cancer patient, every day spent waiting for surgery can feel like an eternity. At Princess Marina Hospital, where more than 50 patients are currently waiting for breast cancer surgery, some have endured delays of up to four months, a situation health professionals now hope to tackle head-on through a one-day surgical marathon.
In an interview in Gaborone, Senior Lecturer at the University of Botswana School of Medicine and Unit Head of Breast and Endocrine Surgery at Princess Marina Hospital, Dr Nkhabe Chinyepi, said the Breast Cancer Catch-Up Surgical Campaign, scheduled for October 10, was a direct response to the growing surgical backlog.
“Our inspiration comes directly from our patients. Every day, we see the profound impact that a cancer diagnosis has on men and women and their families,” she said.
The campaign, held under the message “Every Story is Unique. Every Journey Matters,” will form part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is expected to provide surgery to 20 patients who have been prioritised according to clinical need and waiting time.
Dr Chinyepi said the campaign seeks to restore what cancer patients cannot afford to lose which is time.
“Cancer does not wait for a convenient schedule,” she said, adding that the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between the demand for urgent surgical intervention and the hospital’s current theatre capacity.
The 12-hour intervention ran from 7am to 7pm at Princess Marina Hospital Main Theatre, with three theatres operating simultaneously.
She said the campaign focused on life-saving mastectomies and some breast-conserving surgeries, stressing that the accelerated programme would not compromise the quality or safety of care.
“This is not a rushed event but it is an optimized one,” Dr Chinyepi said.
She said the initiative brought together surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and other support staff from the public and private sectors, as well as breast cancer survivors, in what she described as a demonstration of Botho and collective responsibility.
Dr Chinyepi said the hope is that the campaign will not only reduce the immediate backlog but also stimulate discussions on sustainable investment in oncology services and theatre capacity, with the model potentially extended to areas such as Francistown and Maun.
“We call for sustained investment in oncology services so that ‘marathon Saturdays’ become less necessary over time,” she said. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Taboka Ngwako
Location : Gaborone
Event : Interview
Date : 12 Oct 2026
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