Women In Healthcare Leadership By Tracy Irura, MD As we mark international women’s day 2024, I am privileged to sit in a room full of women navigating leadership positions in healthcare in Kenya. This is an event put together by Strathmore Business School and Kenya Healthcare Federation under the theme...
Exploring environmental carcinogens and their effect on cancer risk
Exploring environmental carcinogens and their effect on cancer risk By Philip Ogolla, Ph.D. Cancer, an intricate and multifaceted illness, arises from the uncontrolled proliferation and spread of aberrant cells within the body. These cells can infiltrate adjacent tissues, develop into tumours, and spread to distant organs, posing significant risks to...
Kidney cancer in children: understanding Wilms Tumour through research
Kidney cancer in children: understanding Wilms Tumour through research By Stella Irungu, Ph.D. Wilms tumour (WT), also known as nephroblastoma, is the most common kidney cancer in children, usually diagnosed between ages 3 to 5 years. It remains the most common solid paediatric tumour in Africa, exceeding 10% of total...
HPV in men: common misconceptions and the facts
HPV in men: common misconceptions and the facts By Lucy Macharia, Ph.D. The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is commonly found in the genital tract of both men and women with or without any clinical lesion. However, chronic infection with HPV is what drives approximately 99% of cervical cancer cases. While...
Debunking the myths about prostate cancer
Debunking the myths about prostate cancer By Ruth Mbugua, Ph.D. Prostate? What does a prostate do? Where is it located? Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men, yet it affects an organ that a majority have no clue of its location, function or even its existence. The prostate...
Tuberculosis or lung cancer?
“Tuberculosis or lung cancer?” By Laura Awuor, MD Mary, a 30-year-old woman from Kenya has been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer after visiting six different hospitals within a span of 5 years. At her diagnosis, the cancer is at stage IV and end-of-life care is the glaring option. At each of...
The role of nutrition in cancer care and management
The role of nutrition in cancer care and management By Caroline Wakuthie, Ph.D. Cancer is a complex and devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. In Kenya, there is a growing recognition of the importance of research that explores the relationship between nutrition and cancer. Kenyan scientists and researchers...
Addressing misdiagnosis in evidence-based cancer treatment
Addressing misdiagnosis in evidence-based cancer treatment By Tyrus Swaya, Ph.D. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 5 people will develop cancer in their lifetime. Even though the cancer diagnosis process has improved with time, the burden of misdiagnosis significantly contributes to cancer mortality, especially in the low-...
Why Is Cancer So Hard To Treat?
Why Is Cancer So Hard To Treat? By Fiona Okonjo Cancer is an old disease. The earliest description of cancer dates back to ancient Egypt around 3000 BC, as documented in the Edwin Smith Papyrus. The authors described eight cases where tumours or ulcers were removed by cauterization and indicate...
Foreword
Foreword The burden of cancer is increasingly posing significant challenges to patients, families and healthcare systems across Africa. In the face of this ferocious malady, it is crucial that the public has access to knowledge about emerging methods of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. By enlightening individuals about cancer and...