- 33 patients diagnosed and treated between 2024 and 2025
- Age range of affected individuals spans from 41 to 91 years
- 80% of patients respond well to treatment
- The hospital grapple with delays in diagnostic results—a significant barrier to timely treatment
Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital has reported a rise in prostate cancer cases over the past two years, with a total of 33 patients diagnosed and treated between 2024 and 2025.
This was revealed by the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Batisani Mokgethi, who highlighted both progress in treatment and ongoing challenges in managing the disease.
According to Mokgethi, the hospital has observed that 80% of patients respond well to treatment, including those currently undergoing hormonal therapy. For those whose treatment response is poor, regular reviews are conducted every one to three months. Stable patients, on the other hand, are reviewed every six months.
The age range of affected individuals spans from 41 to 91 years, with the hospital noting an upward trend in prostate cancer diagnoses from last year to this year. “The increase can be attributed to factors such as old age, poor health-seeking behavior, failure to screen, smoking, and unhealthy diets,” said Mokgethi.
Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital conducts various screening and diagnostic tests for prostate cancer, including Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE), Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests, trans-rectal ultrasound, spinal MRI, and x-rays. However, a key concern is the delay in receiving test results. While ultrasound and x-ray tests are interpreted at the hospital, other samples must be sent to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) for analysis.
“This sometimes leads to pending results or samples that are never returned, creating a backlog and forcing some patients to resort to private clinics for PSA blood tests,” Mokgethi explained.
In an effort to improve early detection and treatment outcomes, the hospital and its associated clinics regularly conduct health talks and awareness campaigns about various cancers, including prostate cancer. These initiatives aim to dismantle social stigmas, particularly men’s reluctance to discuss prostate health, and to promote timely health-seeking behaviors.
“September is recognized as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month,” Mokgethi added. “It’s a time we use to intensify education and mobilize communities around the importance of early screening and open discussions about prostate health.”
Despite ongoing efforts, the hospital continues to grapple with delays in diagnostic results—a significant barrier to timely treatment and patient confidence in the public health system.
Mokgethi emphasized the need for improved turnaround times in lab results and more local diagnostic capabilities to ensure faster and more reliable patient care.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) and GLOBOCAN 2022, Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men globally, with approximately 1.4 million new cases and 375,000 deaths reported annually. The disease is more frequently diagnosed in high-income countries due to widespread screening programs like PSA testing, leading to earlier detection and higher survival rates. In these countries, the five-year survival rate can exceed 90% when diagnosed early. However, in low- and middle-income regions, including parts of Africa, survival rates remain significantly lower due to limited access to diagnostic tools, late-stage detection, and a lack of specialized treatment facilities.
Globally, key risk factors for prostate cancer include age (typically affecting men over 50), family history, genetics, unhealthy diets, smoking, and physical inactivity. Black men are particularly at higher risk and face greater mortality rates. In response, many health organizations and countries have established awareness campaigns, especially during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, to promote early detection and reduce stigma around men’s health issues. Efforts are also underway to expand access to testing and improve cancer data collection in underserved regions.
As prostate cancer cases continue to rise, health officials at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital are calling for greater awareness, enhanced resources, and a stronger commitment to early detection and diagnosis.
