The fight against breast cancer has received a major boost after a new comprehensive breast care centre was launched even as specialists highlighted challenges that are weighing down the efforts to control the disease.

Oncologists, breast cancer surgeons and caregivers are concerned that late diagnosis and stigma continue to hamper gains made in the fight against the disease that’s most commonly diagnosed in Kenya.

According to Dr Catherine Nyongesa, a member of the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (Kesho), most patients present with late stage cancer, which is hard to treat.

 “From the statistics, it is a bit worrying that most Kenyans are not going for screening and presenting with late stage cancer, about 60 percent coming with stage 3 and 4. We really have a long way to go,” she said recently during a media roundtable.

 Latest statistics at the Ministry of Health show that there are 6,000 new breast cancer cases and 2,500 cancer-related deaths annually.

 However, with the launch of the new breast care centre at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), even survivors feel there is hope for quality cancer diagnosis, treatment and patient care. The centre will provide a one-stop shop for screening, diagnostics and treatment of the disease.

Raise awareness

According to Health Principal Secretary, Susan Mochache who launched the centre, it will offer breast health education, clinical breast examination and mammograms among others.

 “Today we are talking about an initiative that will also provide breast ultrasound, breast MRI, biopsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), staging CT scans/PET scans and specialist consultations,” she added.

 With the centre currently serving an average of 20 patients daily, the number is anticipated to grow to about 50 patients daily in the coming weeks, it was revealed.

 Mochache noted that the Ministry will continue to raise awareness on breast cancer noting that there is progress in the prevention and control of cancer nationally.  “We seek to comprehensively address cancer control through the systematic implementation of evidence-based interventions for prevention, screening, timely diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, palliative care, financing, monitoring and research,” she noted.

 The PS noted that while up to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable, the need for stakeholders continuously rethinking breast cancer counter strategies is becoming urgent.

 “We need to focus efforts on prevention, which has been shown to be the most cost-effective way of fighting the deadly ailment,” she noted, explaining that the government has put in place measures to strengthen its health system to ensure all Kenyans receive equitable and accessible cancer prevention and control services.

 However, she said that early screening and detection in line with Breast Cancer Action Plan, is important for timely management. The breast cancer action plan is advocating for 90 percent of women with breast cancer to be diagnosed in early stages. “Current evidence denotes that screening and early diagnosis remain the cornerstone for controlling breast cancer. Promotion of breast health awareness and education of women on what they can do to prevent breast cancer are paramount in the early detection of this disease,” she said.

Partnerships

 KUTRRH Board chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda noted that the Board will continue guiding the hospital’s management team so that it can invest in state-of-the-art equipment and a dedicated team of specialists.

 In a statement read on her behalf by Gladys Ogolla, a member of the KUTRRH board, Prof Mugenda said the envisaged infrastructure and human capital needed will live up to the Centre’s ideals of providing holistic patient-centered breast care services.

 The hospital CEO, Ahmed Dagane noted that the newly launched Centre will contribute to the fight against cancer through early regular screening, diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes and survivorship.

 “We are also seeking support from our stakeholders and partners in provision of critical equipment to supplement the ones that we have, which are already over stretched due to high demand,” he said.

  Roche East Africa, General Manager, Frank Loeffler said the partnership with the Ministry and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), will help  address the multiple barriers to care and treatment that cancer patients face.