For 51-year-old Ingabire, what started as a recurring lump in her proper breast ultimately led to a most cancers prognosis and remedy on the College Instructing Hospital of Butare (CHUB).
When the lump first appeared, she sought remedy at an area dispensary, the place she was given remedy and the swelling disappeared. It returned a number of occasions, nevertheless, prompting her to hunt remedy on the dispensary 4 occasions.
When it continued to recur, she went to Kinazi Well being Centre in Kinazi Sector, Ruhango District, for a check-up and was referred to CHUB.
When she arrived at CHUB in Could, medical doctors took a tissue pattern for testing. The outcomes confirmed that she had breast most cancers.
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She was instructed she would obtain eight injections, administered each three weeks, earlier than present process surgical procedure and additional remedy.
Ingabire is receiving remedy by the community-based medical insurance scheme, whereas her husband helps cowl transport and different treatment-related bills. The prices stay a problem for the household, notably as they’ve 4 kids in class.
A former farmer, Ingabire is now too weak to work. Nevertheless, she stated travelling to CHUB is extra manageable than travelling to Butaro Hospital for remedy.
“I’m grateful that my situation was found, and I’m glad that the care is now near us. Earlier than, the higher possibility was to go to Butaro Hospital, which is much from us,” she stated.
She stated medical doctors monitor her situation and make contact with her when she is due for appointments. She was additionally suggested that though most cancers is severe, it may be handled.
Ingabire had requested whether or not she might preserve her breast if the tumour disappeared following remedy. The physician, nevertheless, defined that eradicating it might be safer to stop the most cancers from spreading.
“Individuals ought to go to the hospital as quickly as they discover something uncommon. Going to conventional healers might be harmful, and delaying remedy can worsen the situation,” she stated.
One other affected person, Hamim Rwashumba, a father of 4 from Huye District, additionally stated having most cancers providers nearer to dwelling has made accessing remedy simpler.
Rwashumba started experiencing extreme abdomen issues in 2024, together with persistent diarrhoea, ache and issue consuming, ingesting and sleeping. He sought remedy at a district hospital, however exams didn’t establish the trigger.
The signs continued into 2025, prompting repeated visits to well being amenities with no prognosis.
Early this yr, he went to CHUB for additional examinations. His situation worsened, and he was admitted to the hospital for about 20 days in Could.
Additional examinations, together with imaging, revealed a tumour in his gut. He underwent surgical procedure and stated his situation has since improved.
“I can now sleep, eat and use the bathroom, not like earlier than,” he stated.
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He was knowledgeable in June that he had intestinal most cancers and is awaiting info on the subsequent stage of his remedy.
Most cancers remedy inside attain
The most cancers centre at CHUB started operations in August 2025, bringing prognosis and remedy nearer to sufferers within the southern and surrounding areas.
It initially offered most cancers prognosis and staging, in addition to oral and subcutaneous remedies, whereas referring some sufferers to different most cancers centres relying on their situation, potential to pay and remedy preferences.
In July 2026, the centre expanded its providers to incorporate chemotherapy infusions, the place most cancers medicines are delivered instantly right into a vein.
Dr Adonay Gebreslassie, a scientific oncologist at CHUB, stated the enlargement is critical as a result of the southern a part of the nation has one of many highest most cancers incidences, in accordance with a research primarily based on the Rwanda Most cancers Registry.
“Many sufferers from the south, south-west and the like used to go to different most cancers centres. Earlier than, there was no most cancers remedy service right here, no oncologist or oncology nurse. Those that couldn’t afford remedy generally returned dwelling with out receiving the care they wanted,” he stated.
Gebreslassie stated CHUB had pathology providers earlier than the most cancers centre was established, however these weren’t as complete as they’re immediately.
The centre can now diagnose which stage of most cancers and start remedy, relying on out there sources, with plans to deal with most stable cancers and a few lymphomas.
The hospital has put in a chemotherapy mixing machine, established oncology wards and outpatient providers, and educated oncology nurses.
It additionally has a brand new MRI machine, CT scanner and radiologists, alongside surgeons from specialties together with common surgical procedure, ear, nostril and throat (ENT) and orthopaedics.
“Most cancers remedy is multidisciplinary in nature. It wants pathology, radiology, surgical and oncology providers, ENT, and numerous departments,” Gebreslassie stated.
The centre has additionally began multidisciplinary conferences, the place specialists assessment difficult instances collectively. Relying on the affected person, these discussions could contain oncologists, radiologists and surgeons.
The variety of oncology specialists has additionally elevated. Gebreslassie, who beforehand labored at Butaro Hospital and King Faisal Hospital, now works full-time at CHUB.
Two just lately graduated Rwandan oncologists have joined him, bringing the variety of oncologists on the centre to 3, with a gynaecologist additionally concerned in affected person care.
“We at present see between 10 and 20 sufferers a day, relying on the day. We’re additionally planning to obtain at the very least 10 referrals a day from different well being amenities for sufferers who might be handled right here,” he stated.
The quantity is being saved at that stage for now to keep away from overwhelming the brand new service, which additionally treats sufferers recognized at CHUB.
Early prognosis stays key
Gebreslassie stated the rise in most cancers diagnoses doesn’t essentially imply the illness has instantly turn out to be extra frequent.
Improved diagnostic strategies, larger consciousness and higher entry to remedy are among the many elements contributing to the rise.
“Globally, most cancers incidence is rising, however the rise in diagnoses can be linked to improved diagnostic strategies, larger consciousness and higher entry to remedy,” he stated.
He stated extra individuals at the moment are searching for medical care, whereas up to now some sufferers with cancer-related wounds would conceal and keep away from hospitals.
Nevertheless, many sufferers nonetheless arrive with superior prostate, breast and cervical cancers, partly due to restricted consciousness, insufficient entry to screening and monetary constraints.
Early detection, he stated, provides sufferers a greater likelihood of profitable remedy.
Entry stays a problem
Regardless of the enlargement of most cancers providers at CHUB, some sufferers nonetheless battle to afford remedy and return dwelling for palliative care at close by hospitals.
Gebreslassie stated together with extra most cancers medicines within the community-based medical insurance bundle might assist scale back the monetary burden on sufferers.
He added that bringing providers nearer to communities might encourage earlier prognosis and remedy, bettering sufferers’ probabilities of restoration.
Most cancers care at CHUB additionally consists of assist past chemotherapy and different energetic remedies. Sufferers want psychosocial, dietary and pain-management assist all through their remedy.
Docs already present counselling and ache administration, whereas a educated psychologist or psychotherapist helps sufferers. The centre plans to additional combine psychosocial and dietary providers into its most cancers programme.
The hospital additionally plans to develop its providers additional.
“We’re looking forward to providing radiotherapy as we proceed to develop most cancers providers,” Gebreslassie stated.
