•Low survival rates in sub-Saharan Africa are largely attributable to late-stage presentation
• Limited service availability and poorly coordinated cancer management and referral are also hampering cancer prevention and control in the country
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The high cost of cancer diagnosis and treatment in the country is delaying progress in breast cancer prevention and control in Kenya, health experts have warned.
The experts say limited-service availability and poorly coordinated cancer management and referral are also hampering cancer prevention and control in the country.
Other challenges include the general lack of public awareness and knowledge on cancer prevention and control, and inadequate human resources and capacity.
“Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world. The more we learn about this pervasive disease, the clearer it becomes that breast cancer is not one disease, but many,” the National Cancer Institute CEO Alfred Karagu said.
"We recognize there is still more work to be done to improve the outlook for people living with breast cancer, including those with early-stage disease who may be at an elevated risk of recurrence,” he added.
According to Karagu, breast cancer interventions such as screening and treatment are estimated to save 236,000 lives annually.
Cancer is the third leading cause of death both globally and in Kenya and the second leading cause of Non-Communicable Diseases deaths after cardiovascular diseases.
According to GLOBOCAN estimates, the annual incidence of cancer was reported as 47,887 cases in 2018 and 42,116 in 2020.
The Kenya Health Facility Assessment conducted in 2018 shows that readiness to offer cancer prevention, management and control services was highest for cervical cancer at 85 per cent and lowest for breast cancer care at just six per cent.
“Low survival rates in sub-Saharan Africa are largely attributable to late-stage presentation,” Dr Mohammed Ezzi said.
Ezzi is a Medical Oncologist and Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medicine at the University of Nairobi.
“Efforts to promote early detection through improved breast cancer awareness and clinical breast examination by skilled health providers and timely and appropriate treatment are essential components to improving survival because mammography screening programmes may not be feasible in low-resource settings,” Ezzi added.
The experts have called for multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration for effective risk factor reduction and cancer prevention.
They noted that limited funding for cancer prevention and control and limited cancer research also significantly limit progress in the management of breast cancer.