Joseph Njue had been leading a healthy life until December last year when his wife noticed that his eyes appeared yellowish and urged him to see a doctor.
The diagnosis revealed that he had a cancerous growth in his liver, which required surgical removal for effective treatment.
Mr Njue is among the few lucky Kenyans who manage to get timely medical intervention for cancer when the tumours are still small, thus improving their treatment outcomes.
Of the approximately 41,000 Kenyans diagnosed with cancer annually, about 28,000 end up dead based on the World Health Organisation Global Cancer statistics (GLOBOCAN).
Dr David Makumi, vice-chairman of the Kenya Cancer Association (Kencasa), attributes most of these deaths to late diagnosis of the disease, which often proves costly and makes treatment difficult.
Sometimes, he notes, patients may come early only to die painful deaths as they queue for months awaiting treatment at public hospitals with inadequate cancer treatment facilities.
This is the sad story of cancer that is still haunting many Kenyans as the international community marks the World Cancer Day on Wednesday.
This dire situation reminds one of the early days of HIV/Aids when the disease was viewed as a death sentence. Back then, the anti-retroviral drugs now offered free of charge to patients in all government hospitals were costly and a preserve of the wealthy. SEE VIDEO: Govt urged to tackle cancer among low income earners
This year’s cancer day theme; ‘Not Beyond Us,’ is a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just as that of HIV/Aids, the cancer story could one day have a happy ending in terms of early diagnosis and treatment.
Indeed, health experts worldwide are optimistic that even without a cure yet for the disease, existing solutions within the reach of individuals and governments can significantly contribute to the prevention, treatment and management of cancer.
Role of lifestyle
Othieno Abinya, an oncologist at Nairobi Hospital, notes that we can begin the fight by avoiding lifestyles that make us vulnerable to cancer.
An example is tobacco use, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) cites as the single most important risk factor for the disease, causing about 20 per cent of global cancer deaths and about 71 per cent of lung cancer mortalities.
Aside from changing the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of cells hence making them cancerous, cigarette smoking also lowers body immunity, making it harder to kill cancer cells.
Alcoholic drinks are also carcinogenic. Research by the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services revealed that the more alcohol people drink regularly over time, the higher their risk of developing an alcohol associated cancer such as liver, breast, oesophageal, colorectal and head or neck cancer.
“Minimal consumption of alcohol is not bad. Unfortunately alcohol has a way of making you yearn for more. You can start with two bottles and end up with 20. So we need to be careful,” warns Prof Abinya.
Dr Makumi adds that enacting tough laws regulating the promotion and consumption of alcohol and tobacco is not enough.
“We need to establish adequate rehabilitation centres and programmes for addicts as it’s not always easy to break the habit,” he says.
Heavy drinking of alcohol also causes liver cirrhosis which damages the organ, eventually leading to liver cancer. Other major contributors to this cancer are two viruses — Hepatitis B and C which are transmitted through blood just as HIV.
“Luckily, a vaccine for Hepatitis B (HBV) exists and can therefore offer some protection against one major cause of liver cancer,” says Dr Asim Shaikh, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
Consumption of aflatoxin contaminated food is also linked to soaring cases of liver cancer in Kenya. Numerous studies have found high levels of aflatoxin in maize and peanuts consumed in the country.
Proper drying of grains and thorough inspection by relevant authorities would be helpful.
HPV
However, scientists advise that before a sustainable solution to the problem is found, it would be prudent for Kenyans to diversify foods and not rely solely on those susceptible to aflatoxin. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer. SEE VIDEO: Battling cancer: Katheke Mbithi's story
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that causes it is sexually transmissible and often resides in the womb for even up to 20 years before the cancer fully develops.
Fortunately, says Shaikh, a vaccine (HPV) against the virus exists and should be given to women before their first sexual encounter for maximum impact.
“Having protected sex using condoms can also cut the transmission of HPV,” Prof Abinya says.
Healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables boosts the immunity, enabling it to ward off cancer cells.
Eating red meat in moderation is also recommended. Research has shown that the risk of relapse in cancer patients (especially colon) who consume a lot of meat is high. Studies have also shown that the risk of prostate cancer among vegetarians is lower than among meat lovers.
Exercise is good, “but it has to be the type that predispose people to weight loss or they will still be prone to cancers of obesity such as breast and colon,” says Prof Abinya.
He cautions, however, that adhering to healthy lifestyles offers some protection against cancer but does not eliminate the possibility of getting it.
Dr Shaikh notes that it is therefore important for Kenyans to undergo regular screening of common cancers like breast, cervical and prostrate.
“Most cancers when caught early can be cured or treated effectively.”
Cancer equipment
Meanwhile, the government has announced that it will spend Sh38 billion on leasing medical treatment and diagnosis equipment for county hospitals. About half of this amount will target cancer machines.
"Our aim is to take treatment facilities closer to the people so they do not have to endure the long queues at the country’s national referral hospital waiting for treatment," Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia told the Business Daily.
The National Cancer Institute whose board members were gazetted in January, is also working on a national registry as part of a control strategy first proposed some years ago.
“We need local statistics on cancer trends… to come up with the right interventions,” Mr Macharia says, adding that the institute will lobby for public funding. SEE VIDEO: Economic impact of cancer in Kenya
Dr Makumi notes that partnerships with better equipped private hospitals could help bring down treatment costs for cancer patients.
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