The dedicated Breast Clinic in Thimphu recorded more than 1,600 visits in its first year. Patients came for assessment, diagnosis and treatment, including surgery for breast cancer. The clinic marked its first anniversary today, with Her Majesty Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck gracing the celebration.
It has been one year since the dedicated Breast Clinic at the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu was established.
Some patients came for an initial assessment and needed further tests, while others were diagnosed with breast cancer and required surgery and further treatment.
Breast Surgeon Dr Sonam Zangpo said, “The first year has been very encouraging. We have had more than 1,600 breast clinic encounters, performed more than 45 breast cancer surgeries, with more than 35 breast-conserving surgeries, and over 26 sentinel lymph node biopsies. But for me, the biggest change is that the patient now has easier access to a dedicated, coordinated breast care pathway.”
Doctors say the next priority is to detect cancer earlier, before it becomes more difficult to treat.
“Early detection means simpler treatment, better chance of cure, fewer treatment-related side effects, and less burden on the patient and the health system,” said Dr Sonam Zangpo.
However, patients can still face delays in getting the care they need.
Bhutan does not currently have a linear accelerator for radiotherapy, so some patients have to travel outside the country for treatment. Access to advanced systemic treatment and molecular and genomic testing is also limited.
Specialised breast services remain concentrated in Thimphu, while regional hospitals face shortages of equipment and trained personnel.
Health officials say delays can occur at several stages, including late presentation, pathology testing and referrals for treatment abroad.
“Most important is education. You need to educate your people that breast cancer is not an infectious disease. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. And if you detect it early and have proper treatment, your chances of being cured are very high,” said Dr Krisna Chatamra, the honorary director for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation, Thailand.
Alongside improving access to treatment, Bhutan is also working to strengthen its expertise.
Bhutanese health professionals are working with experts from Thailand on clinical knowledge, training and service development.
Dr Krisna Chatamra said, “International collaboration can help Bhutan avoid the pitfalls we faced when we started. With more than 20 years of experience, we can share what worked, what did not, and help Bhutan develop its breast-care services much faster. I believe this collaboration can make a real difference by helping the Bhutan centre build on our experience rather than repeat the same mistakes.”
The first year of the Breast Clinic has shown that there is demand for specialised breast care. The challenge now is to make that care available earlier, more widely and with fewer delays, wherever patients live in Bhutan.