Lesotho has renewed its call for earlier breast cancer detection and more accessible treatment as the government moves to establish a national cancer centre.
The appeal came as the country marked World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, placing patient-centred cancer care at the centre of the observance. Health Minister Mamokete Ntšekhe said breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting women in Lesotho.
Ntšekhe told the commemoration that Parliament has allocated funding for the planned cancer centre. She said the project is intended to reduce the heavy cost of sending patients abroad for specialist care and to bring more services within reach of Basotho families.
The announcement gives fresh momentum to a project that has been discussed for several years. A dedicated centre could shorten the path from diagnosis to treatment, but its impact will depend on staffing, diagnostic capacity, medicine supplies and reliable referral systems throughout the country.
Early diagnosis is especially important in breast cancer care. The World Health Organisation says outcomes improve when people recognise possible symptoms, receive prompt clinical evaluation and are referred quickly for appropriate treatment. Treatment may involve surgery, radiotherapy and medicines, depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread.
The WHO estimated that breast cancer caused about 694,000 deaths worldwide in 2024. It also stresses that diagnosis must connect patients to complete treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care rather than end with screening alone.
Palliative care remains essential throughout serious illness because it helps manage pain and other symptoms while supporting patients and their families. Linking that care with earlier diagnosis and treatment is part of the broader effort to improve both survival and quality of life.
For Lesotho, the immediate challenge is to turn the funding commitment into functioning services that patients can access without long delays or unaffordable travel. Clear implementation milestones and continued public education will be important as the cancer-centre plan advances.
Sources: SABC News; World Health Organisation breast cancer fact sheet. Featured image: Pixabay, via SABC News.