Cancer cases in Kenya will rise to more than 47,000 in 2018 up from 35,000 in 2012, with 70 percent of patients expected to die from the disease.
This is according to an international cancer conference, which kicked off in Nairobi on Thursday. The conference opened in Nairobi with experts advocating for home-grown solutions driven by cancer research and best practice.
They called for increased access to information among patients and clinicians alertness to aid in early detection of cancer cases.
While opening the three-day conference in Nairobi, Dr Mohammed Abdi Kuti of the Council of Governors Health and Biotechnology Committee said out of the expected 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018, about 80 percent will occur in low and middle income countries.
“In Kenya, it is expected that we will have 47,000 new cases in 2018. Out of these, 70 per cent will succumb to the disease,” he added.
“This clearly indicates that cancer has become a cause of premature deaths. If we are to reduce these numbers, research comes in handy. Through research, cancer experts can best understand what ails the community, the prevalent areas and devise counter measures to reduce new cancer incidents, improve timely diagnosis, treatment and ultimately increase survivorship,” said Kuti.
The ongoing international cancer conference organised by Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO) is themed: “Integrating Research and Practice”, and experts are advocating for home-grown solutions driven by cancer research and best practice.
They are also calling for increased access to information among patients and clinicians alertness to aid in early detection of cancer cases.
Cancer experts are calling for increased uptake and use of locally-conducted research to best understand causes of cancer, in order to help improve care for patients and ultimately reduce the cancer burden in the country.
Dr Sitna Mwanzi, Chairman of the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology, said over the years African countries have heavily relied on cancer research conducted in the European world to treat their patients locally, some of which is sometimes not applicable due to the social-economic status, availability of cancer treatment and screening facilities, among other factors.
“Cancer control research seeks to identify and evaluate the means of reducing the cancer morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of life of people living with, recovering from or dying of cancer. Knowing what our cancer statistics are and the underlying risks factors for disease, we are able to develop interventions that are suitable to our setting, as well as policies that will help facilitate cancer control,” he said.
The conference is being attended by more than 250 delegates of different specialties, including cancer experts, physicians, cancer nurses, radiation therapy technologists, cancer support groups among other like-minded cancer networks.
– APA
