Cancer cases will reach 58,000 every year, says MoH

At least 58,000 Kenyans will be diagnosed with cancer every year from 2028, based on the growing incidence of the disease, the Ministry of Health has said.

In 2023, about 42,000 Kenyans received cancer diagnosis.

The ministry says the numbers will continue to rise because of improved diagnosis and increased life expectancy.

Currently, the old age population (above 60 years) is the fastest growing segment of the population and the most predisposed to cancer.

The ministry said overall, the Kenya’s population growth, increased urbanisation and increase in risk factors for cancer will lead to more numbers.

“Going by the current trends, it is projected that there will be an estimated 58,000 new cancer cases in Kenya in the year 2028 increasing to an estimated 95,217 incident cases by 2040,” the ministry says in the National Cancer Control Strategy (2023–2027).

Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Kenya after infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

The disease, which refers to about 100 closely-related conditions, kills about 27,092 Kenyans every year.

Currently, about  82,000 people in Kenya are living with the disease.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said many of these cases could be prevented.

“About 40 per cent of all cancers can be prevented through avoidance of known modifiable risk factors, immunisation and making our living environment healthier,” she said.

“This means that out of the 42,116 cases of cancer diagnosed every year in Kenya, around 16,846 could be prevented.”

Dr Patrick Amoth, the acting director General for Health, said the ministry will collaborate with other sectors to improve prevention.

“This strategic plan also adopts a multi-sectoral approach in reduction of the burden of cancer risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use, occupational exposures, air pollution, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity,” he said.

Most preventable cancers are linked to tobacco use (responsible for 20-30 per cent of all new cancer cases or cancer deaths), alcohol use (3-7 per cent), overweight and obesity (3-10 per cent), physical inactivity, deficient intake in fruits and vegetables (5 per cent) or infectious agents.

“Tobacco consumption, for example, has been linked to tumorigenesis (formation of a tumor) including but not limited to lung cancer, laryngeal-esophageal cancers and bladder cancer,” the strategic plan says.

The plan said Kenya should cut tobacco and alcohol use by half.

The top five cancers according to the ministry include breast, cervix, prostate, oesophagus and non-Hodgkins lymphoma and account for nearly half (48 per cent) of the cancer burden in the country.

According to the ministry, six counties from the  Mt Kenya region top the first 10 devolved units with the highest number of cases in the country.

These are Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Embu counties. Kiambu, Meru and Nyandarua are also in the top 10 list.

The World Health Organization's cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer  said in 2022, there was an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths globally.

The estimated number of people who were alive within five years following a cancer diagnosis was 53.5 million.

The global WHO survey on UHC and cancer shows that only 39 per cent of participating countries covered the basics of cancer management as part of their financed core health services for all citizens.

Only 28 per cent of participating countries additionally covered care for people who require palliative care, including pain relief in general and not just linked to cancer.

“WHO’s new global survey sheds light on major inequalities and lack of financial protection for cancer around the world, with populations, especially in lower income countries, unable to access the basics of cancer care,” said Dr Bente Mikkelsen, director of the department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO.

“WHO, including through its cancer initiatives, is working intensively with more than 75 governments to develop, finance and implement policies to promote cancer care for all. To expand on this work, major investments are urgently needed to address global inequities in cancer outcomes.”