The growing number of Kenyans seeking early cancer screening is helping improve detection rates, with more patients now being diagnosed at stage one compared to previous years. Medical experts attribute this progress to increased public awareness and improved access to screening services. They urge more Kenyans to embrace regular medical check-ups to strengthen the fight against cancer. Early diagnosis gives patients better chances of successful treatment and survival before the disease spreads.
Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Zeinab Gura, emphasizes that early detection, timely diagnosis, and access to appropriate treatment are central to reducing cancer-related deaths. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026, Dr Gura highlighted the importance of screening in identifying cancers before they progress to advanced stages. She encourages people to come forward for screening rather than waiting until symptoms develop.
Breast cancer accounts for about 25 per cent of all cancers diagnosed among women, making expanded screening and timely referral essential. Dr Gura notes that KUTRRH has strengthened its cancer management services through its Comprehensive Breast Care Centre, offering screening, diagnosis, and treatment planning. The hospital is also working towards establishing a dedicated liver centre to improve specialized care, research, and patient outcomes.
Dr Abdirahman Hargura, a consultant hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) and liver transplant surgeon, warns that liver cancer remains a silent killer. Many patients seek medical attention only when the disease is advanced. Liver cancer is the 16th most common cancer in Kenya, with major risk factors including excessive alcohol consumption, hepatitis B and C infections, and liver cirrhosis.
Dr Hargura expresses concern that some patients, particularly young men, present with liver masses measuring up to 20 centimetres. He emphasizes that treatment remains inaccessible to many patients and calls for a centre of excellence where patients can access screening, diagnosis, specialized treatment, and follow-up care. This would improve patient outcomes and help combat liver cancer.
Cancer survivors Lucy Njeri and Agnes Ndungu urge Kenyans to embrace screening, citing early diagnosis and locally available treatment as giving patients renewed hope. They encourage people to take proactive steps towards their health and seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms. By doing so, Kenyans can improve their chances of successful treatment and survival.
Dr Gura and other medical experts call on county governments and stakeholders to intensify public awareness campaigns, strengthen referral systems, and ensure patients can access medicines and modern treatment technologies. By working together, Kenya can continue to make progress in the fight against cancer and improve patient outcomes.
Key points
- Early detection gives patients a better chance of successful treatment and survival.
- Liver cancer is the 16th most common cancer in Kenya.
- Breast cancer accounts for about 25 per cent of all cancers diagnosed among women.
