Current Status of Radiotherapy Services in Kenya ()
Affiliation(s)
1Cancer Treatment Centre, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Nairobi, Kenya.
2Oncology & Cancer Treatment Centre, The Nairobi Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
3School of Biomedical & Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
4Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Owing to the missing
recent data regarding cancer case volumes in Kenyan hospitals since 2012, the
aim of the study was to fill the gap by providing data for two hospitals in
Nairobi, the post year 2012. The general situation of radiation oncology and
recommendation for improvement of radiotherapy services in the country were
also highlighted. Further assessment was to investigate and determine the
relationship between age, different types of cancer, and gender for cancer
patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment. Materials and Methods: A data compilation, analysis, and evaluation process were
conducted at two cancer treatment centers in Kenya followed by an assessment of
radiotherapy cancer treatment facilities in the country. The number of the
patients treated for cervical, breast prostate, esophagus, rectum, and lung
cancer against their ages and gender were also compiled for assessment. Results: The number of cancer patients
treated by radiotherapy continuously increased annually and he trends of the
graphs in both centers were similar. Cervical cancer was the most common cancer
treated by radiotherapy at the two centers, followed by breast and prostate
cancer. Different types of cancer assessed were dependent on age and that
cancer appeared at younger ages in female cervical and breast cancer patients
as opposed to the male prostate cancer. Conclusion:
The results indicate a continuous annual increase in cancer patients treated by
radiotherapy in Kenya radiotherapy centers. The increase may be attributed to
the rising population, limited access to cancer awareness, and the growing
adoption of unhealthy lifestyles, among other factors. Female cervical and
breast cancer patients contracted the disease at younger ages (46 - 50 years)
compared to the male prostate cancer patients with a mean age of 61 - 65 years.
Socio-economic factors, the organization of healthcare systems, and a limited
workforce have been identified as some of the barriers to the provision of
proper radiotherapy services in the country.
Share and Cite:
Ndonye, P. and Tagoe, S. (2022) Current Status of Radiotherapy Services in Kenya.
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
13, 218-233. doi:
10.4236/jct.2022.134018.
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