Kenya's First Certified Oncologist Reveals 40 Years of Work in New Book

Prof Nicholas Anthony Othieno-Abinya, Kenya's first certified oncologist, has written a book titled Shadow in Perpetuity, detailing his 40-year career in oncology. Born in Siaya, Prof Abinya was inspired to pursue oncology after reading Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Cancer Ward, a novel he received as a gift for passing his "A" Level biology test at Alliance High School. He later studied medicine at the University of Nairobi and went on to earn a fellowship at the Royal London Hospital.

Prof Abinya's book offers a candid look at the challenges he faced as an oncologist, including patients who wanted to hide their HIV status and families demanding the discharge of patients to be prayed for. He recounts instances where patients protested being given a definite time to live, and others who got fully cured or lived prolonged, useful lives despite having cancer cells in their bodies. As the first board-certified medical oncologist in Kenya, Prof Abinya has practiced mainly at the Kenyatta National Hospital and Nairobi Hospital.

One of the common secrets Prof Abinya encountered was undisclosed HIV status among patients. He attended to a woman battling chronic myeloid leukemia who worked in the DR Congo and was HIV-positive, a fact she had concealed from her European boyfriend. The secret complicated her care, and a counselor had to be brought in to help her come to terms with her diagnosis. Prof Abinya also shares the story of a waitress who came for treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer related to HIV, and had to be forced to admit her HIV status.

Prof Abinya's book also highlights the frustration he faced with patients demanding referrals to foreign hospitals. He notes that those with financial means often run abroad for treatment without being referred, oblivious to the fact that cancer therapy is a long haul and cures are rare after a mere four weeks of treatment. He cites a 75-year-old man who had undergone surgery for kidney cancer four years earlier and was convinced that only foreign doctors could tell him he was "cured".

Prof Abinya identifies prejudice against local doctors as a significant challenge. He recounts the case of a man with prostate cancer who walked into his office with an "obviously malicious look in his eyes", carrying documents and accompanied by an accountant friend. The man could hear nothing but a referral abroad, and Prof Abinya asked why the two considered themselves good professionals locally but had no faith in locals.

Despite the challenges, Prof Abinya's book is also a story of hope. He shares the story of a 9-year-old medical student diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma who relapsed less than six months after treatment but was later cured in India. He also recounts the case of a woman diagnosed with cancer at 48 who had the affected breast removed, underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and remains healthy.

In the final section of his book, Prof Abinya advises anyone who receives a positive cancer diagnosis to follow prescribed treatment and be at peace with themselves and others. He emphasizes the importance of adhering to scientifically proven interventions and being open to all forms of support. Prof Abinya, who retired in 2022 but still practices on his own schedule, hopes that his book will provide insights into the fights that doctors and patients wage when cancer comes into the picture.

Key points

• Prof Abinya's book, Shadow in Perpetuity, offers a candid look at his 40-year career as an oncologist in Kenya.
• The book highlights the challenges faced by patients and doctors, including prejudice against local doctors and the demand for referrals to foreign hospitals.
• Despite the challenges, the book is also a story of hope, with Prof Abinya sharing stories of patients who have overcome cancer and lived prolonged, useful lives.