Global cancer statistics are alarming, with an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancers related deaths across the globe.
In Botswana prostate cancer is the leading cause of deaths in men, with 159 cases reported by the Global Cancer Registry as of 2022, these being the current statistics to date.
Figures for the year 2023 and 2024 are yet to be released. This is according to the Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital Oncology Unit Manager, Bontshwanetse Baaitse recently during an interview with is publication.
“In Botswana prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death, after cervical and breast cancer. However, in men cancer of the prostate is the number one cause followed by esophageal cancer which affects the throat,” he revealed.
“Then Kaposi sarcoma is also prevalent where one develops lesions, tumors, patches on the legs, feet and face. A person’s lymph nodes swell in the legs, neck and groin. Usually, this type of cancer is diagnosed by dermatologists. The next most common cancer in men is oral cavity cancer, in simple terms this is cancer of the mouth, because more men smoke tobacco and engage in excessive drinking of alcohol so it mostly affects them,” explained Baaitse.
Baaitse further revealed that non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also common in men and a leading cause of death among males. This according to him is where one develops lymph knots in armpits as cancer would has affected the immune system.
He said prostate cancer therefore accounts for 16.9 percent of cancer deaths, while throat cancer stands at 14.2 percent of deaths in men. Baaitse however, says there are more men with symptoms of prostate cancer out there, but have not tested or are not aware of what they are suffering from.
“Men lack awareness. They lack information about the availability screening services and importance of screening for cancer. Generally, like any other health condition men are very difficult and not forthcoming in accessing health care services”, said Baaitse.
But this time around during the month of November, SKM teaching hospital is collaborating with radio stations to create awareness.
This way more men will go for blood sample testing, screening and more new cases will be detected. Men from 45 years and above are advised to test for prostate cancer yearly, for early detection in order to start treatment.
According to Baaitse men in Botswana delay to get checked even when they see symptoms of the disease. And by the time the cancer is diagnosed it is at an advanced stage.
“Symptoms start to show early but the problem is men ignore, hesitate the signs. By the time they seek help, the cancer is at stage three or four. This is very advanced; sometimes in some patient’s stage 3 cancers can be treated because it has not spread. But for those who are diagnosed at stage four we can no longer cure the disease. All we do is to manage the pain, improve the patient’s quality of life, because the disease has spread to the lungs, bones brain and other body parts. We offer palliative care. But cancer can be cured if detected early”, elaborated SKM teaching hospital official.
Although in Batswana men aged 50 years and above are more prone to prostate cancer, this does not rule out men in the 40s from being affected by this number one leading cause of death.
