KENYA – The National Cancer Institute of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alfred Karangu launched the Status of Cancer in Kenya Report at the ongoing National Cancer Summit.

The report covers incidents reported in the National Cancer Registry for the period 2021/2022.

In Kenya, cancer is the second leading cause of death among the non- communicable diseases, with reported 47,887 new cases and 32,500 cancer deaths occurring every year.

Currently, according to the data, two out of every three persons diagnosed with cancer will succumb as 70 per cent of cancer cases are diagnosed in advanced stages when cure is impossible.

“Only about 23 per cent of all cancer patients in Kenya access the cancer management services they need to access to screening and early diagnostic services are limited,” reads part of the report.

“Further, the available treatment modalities for cancer carry high costs that are protracted in the lifespan of the affected individual.”

“Less than 25 per cent of facilities can provide services for screening, early diagnosis and treatment,” Karagu said.

In the Counties

Nairobi has the highest number of residents with breast cancer in the country as per the data from the National Cancer Registry.

The Report shows the county had 140 notified cases of breast cancer followed by Nakuru with 96, Nyeri with 83, Machakos with 69 and Kiambu with 63.

Others include Kakamega, Murang’a, Makueni, Kitui, Meru and Embu with 53, 45, 44, 37, 27 and 25 notified cases respectively.

Kirinyaga had 24, Nyandarua 22, Uasin Gishu 20, Busia 17, Kisumu 17, Siaya 17, Kajiado 16, Bungoma 15, Laikipia 15, Mombasa 14, Kisii 12 while Taita Taveta and Vihiga had 10 cases each.

“Wajir, Lamu, Tana River and Elgeyo Marakwet counties had no cancer case notified as hailing from there,” the report released by the National Cancer Institute shows.

Kwale, Narok, Samburu and Turkana had one case each, Mandera, Marsabit and Tharaka Nithi had two cases each, Isiolo three, Kilifi and Nyamira four while Baringo, Bomet, Garissa and Migori had six cases each.

Kericho had nine, Nandi nine, Homa Bay eight, Trans Nzoia six while Baringo, Bomet and Garissa had five cases each.

“Being the most common cancer in the country, breast cancer burden distribution has a similar pattern as the overall cancer burden albeit with minimal differences in the ranking of moderate burden counties,” the report says.

Types of Cancer

Esophageal cancer is the leading cause of the disease-related deaths in Kenya at 15.6 per cent, followed by cervical cancer at 10.4 per cent, breast cancer (9.6 per cent) and liver cancer (9.1 per cent).

In terms of prevalence, breast cancer is the highest at 15.9 per cent, cervical cancer (13.3 per cent), oesophagus 11.8 (per cent), prostate cancer (10.1 per cent), colorectal cancer (7.1 per cent) and stomach cancer (5.8 per cent).

Overall, breast, cervical, prostate, oesophagus and non-Hodgkins lymphoma are the five top cancers in the country.

According to the National Cancer Institute CEO Alfred Karagu, these five cancers account for nearly half (48 per cent) of the cancer burden in the country.

Notably, cervical and breast cancers contribute to almost a quarter (23 per cent) of all cancer-related deaths in the country.

On cancer-related complications, patients diagnosed with breast cancer are likely to get complications (15.9 per cent), followed by cervical cancer (13.3 per cent).

In terms of gender

Forty-six (46) per cent of the new cases are usually diagnosed at a very late stage in both men and women.

However, more women (16.2 per cent) get to know of their cancer diagnosis much earlier than men (10.4 per cent).

The report further indicates that men are mostly affected by prostate cancer (23.7 per cent), followed by oesophagus cancer (15.9 per cent) and colorectal cancer (8.8 per cent).

In children, Leukemia accounts for the highest proportion of cases at 15 per cent followed by brain tumours at 11 per cent, lymphomas and Kidney at 10 per cent and Nasopharynx at 7 per cent. Other childhood cancers account for the remaining 47 per cent.

Kenya is hosting the first-ever national cancer summit.

The two days summit seeks to review the status of the cancer response to date in line with the Cancer Prevention and Control, ACT 2012 and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

Various speakers in the summit emphasized the need for multi sectoral approach in addressing the cancer burden the country.

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