For hundreds of breast cancer patients who can wait up to four months for life-saving surgery at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), a recent intervention has brought renewed hope.

In an effort to reduce surgical backlogs, the hospital’s medical teams completed 17 breast cancer operations in seven days, an unprecedented increase compared to the usual three procedures performed per week.

The initiative forms part of the Gauteng Department of Health’s (GDoH) strategy to improve timely access to surgical care across key specialities.

By intensifying the surgical workload, the department aims to tackle extremely long waiting lists and enhance survival outcomes for patients who often present with advanced illnesses.

Professor Dikeledi Mokone, head of the hospital’s Breast Unit, and Dr Vukosi Maluleke, who co-ordinated the marathon, described the intervention as a significant turning point for patient care.

“It had a great impact on reducing the number of patients awaiting surgery. Patients usually wait two to four months for surgery.

“The fact that we managed to operate on 17 cancer patients in one week instead of three had a positive effect on reducing waiting times and will likely improve survival outcomes,” they said.

The Breast Unit attends to between 5 000 and 7 000 patients every year, making it one of the busiest in the province.

Reducing waiting periods to a maximum of four weeks is now a key priority, as early surgical intervention has been shown to lower mortality rates and improve the long-term chances of survival for breast cancer patients.

Among the beneficiaries of the surgical drive was 58-year-old Dimakatso Makhuba.

Makhuba, who lost both her parents to cancer, initially discovered a painless lump on her left breast. When it became painful later, she sought help at her clinic.

Before undergoing surgery, Makhuba completed several tests, including a MUGA scan (a scan to assess how well the heart pumps blood), a bone scan, and a biopsy.

During a follow-up visit at the breast clinic, she shared her journey after being diagnosed earlier this year.

“I am thrilled to have received the surgery. This journey has not been easy, and it requires a lot of support from family and friends, which I have. I will forever be grateful,” she said.

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