Breast Cancer- What exactly is it?

Breast cancer is a result of cancer cells that form in the breast cells. It can occur in both men and women. However, it is more rampant in women. The growth of these cancer cells is uncontrollable.

Types of breast cancer cells

There are benign cells as well as malignant cells. The benign cells are slow in growth. As they spread, they do not attack other cells or tissues of the body.

The common signs of breast cancer include:

• A lump in the breast or the armpit.
• One side of the breast could swell.
• The breast skin gets irritated
• The nipple area skin gets red or flaky
• The nipple pulls in or the nipple area gets painful.

Rise of breast cancer in Kenya

Breast cancer in Kenya comes out as the most diagnosed type of cancer. There is an annual increase of about 6,000 new cancer cases. Over 2500 death cases are usually cancer-related in Kenya.

Increased breast cancer is majorly linked to dietary changes in Kenya. Over the years, people have almost deserted diets that are potentially cancer-protective. Such traditional diets include vegetables, dietary fibre, and fruits.

People have now embraced the “Western diet”. The diet is rich in sugar, salt, fat, and cholesterol. Other foods that pose elevated cancer risks include charred red/organ meats.

The types of diet-related breast cancer types include:

• Stomach
• Colorectal
• Prostate
• Esophageal and
• Breast cancer

Read more here.

Breast cancer treatment in Kenya

The Kenyan government has taken up the rise in cancer challenge head-on. It has set up county-level chemotherapy centres. The centres are fully functional. There are so far 10 county-level cancer centres in Kenya.

Chemotherapy in Kenya is readily available in various county referral-level hospitals. Such hospitals are in; Mombasa, Kakamega, Garissa, Kisumu, Meru, Nakuru, and Nyeri.

Breast cancer treatment in Kenya is readily accessible. Most counties have received diagnostic equipment. The equipment is to help in breast cancer treatment or breast cancer screening. Some equipment helps in breast cancer prevention, as well as breast cancer management.

Equipment that comes in handy to manage and diagnose cancer includes:

x-ray, mammography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography.

Several radiotherapy centres are now available. Some more are coming up. You will find radiotherapy centres in:

Nakuru County Referral Hospital, The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mombasa County Referral Hospital, Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital, Kisii County, and Garissa County.

Breast cancer treatment awareness in Kenya

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is highly recognized in Kenya. October is the month you will see a pink ribbon, almost everywhere in Kenya. You will see people wearing pink ribbons. You will see pink ribbons posted all over social media. This is because the pink ribbon is the symbol of breast cancer awareness month.

In breast cancer awareness month- October, cancer patients get support. Those who have just been diagnosed with cancer get support. Those fighting breast cancer, as well as those who have recovered, get support.

In the same month, people get education on breast cancer. People are taught the need for early detection.

Where can one get cancer screening in Kenya?

Screening for other types of cancers is also available in Kenya. Level 3- level 6 health facilities in Kenya offer cervical cancer screening services yearly.

Have you visited some hospitals for cancer screening? The healthcare personnel encourage you to visit your nearest health facility. Check level 3 health facilities for this service.

Level 3 health facilities include health centres, maternity as well as nursing homes.

Level 4 health facilities include sub-county hospitals [previously called ‘district hospitals’] and medium-sized private hospitals.

Level 5 facilities are especially the county referral hospitals and large private hospitals [initially known as provincial/regional hospitals].

Level 6 facilities are national referral hospitals as well as vast private teaching hospitals.

Breast cancer treatment in Kenya

Breast cancer means that cancerous tumours exist in the breasts of female or male patients.

How is it treated? There are surgical treatments that come in handy for breast cancer. They include partial mastectomy, total mastectomy, lumpectomy, and others.

• Lumpectomy– Here, the tumour and the least amount of tissue get removed.
• Partial mastectomy– Here, a part of the breast is removed.
• Total mastectomy– The patient gets a complete removal of their breast.

The surgeries can be done alongside radiation therapy.

The Teeth Team has put together a list of Hospitals offering Breast cancer treatment in Kenya. We encourage any hospital / Medical Clinic/ medical Laboratory offering Breast cancer treatment in Kenya but missing from the list to contact the Teeth Team.

Name: KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL

Website: https://knh.or.ke/

Location: Upper Hill, Hospital Road, Nairobi

Name: MOI TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL, The Chandaria Centre for Cancer and Chronic Diseases and AMPATH Oncology Centre

Website: https://www.mtrh.go.ke/

Location: Nandi Road, Eldoret. Satellite clinics in Kitale, Kakamega, Busia, Webuye, Mosoriot, Chulaimbo (Kisumu), Turbo, Iten.

Name: TENWEK MISSION HOSPITAL

Website: https://www.tenwekhosp.org/

Location: Bomet

Name: KIJABE MISSION HOSPITAL

Website: https://kijabehospital.org/

Location: Kijabe

Name: NAZARETH MISSION HOSPITAL

Website: https://www.nazarethhospital.or.ke/

Location: Limuru, Riara Ridge

Name: JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL

Website: https://jootrh.go.ke/

Location: Kisumu

Name: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL KISUMU

Website: https://www.agakhanhospitals.org/en/aga-khan-hospital-kisumu

Location: Otieno Oyoo Street, Kisumu.

Name: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MOMBASA

Website: https://www.agakhanhospitals.org/en/aga-khan-hospital-mombasa

Location: Vanga Road, Mombasa.

Name: Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital

Website: https://hosi.co.ke/hospitals/coast-general-teaching-and-referral-hospital/

Location: Kisauna Road, Mombasa.

Name: THE MOMBASA HOSPITAL

Website: https://www.mombasahospital.com/

Location: Mama Ngina Drive, Mombasa.

Name: PANDYA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Website: https://www.mombasahospital.com/

Location: Shimanzi, Dedan Kimathi Ave, Mombasa

Name: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NAIROBI

Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/nairobi/Pages/default.aspx

Location: Limuru Road

Name: BEACON HEALTH SERVICES CANCER TREATMENT CENTER

Website: https://www.beaconhealthsystem.org/cancer-care/

Location: Hospital Road Fortis Suites, 5th Floor Suite 9, Nairobi.

Name: MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL

Website: https://www.materkenya.com/

Location: Nairobi, Ring Road

Name: M. P. SHAH HOSPITAL CENTRE-affiliated to the HCG: Cancer Care Centre

Website: https://mpshahhosp.org/cancer-care/

Location: Shivachi Road, Parklands, Nairobi.

Name: NAIROBI WOMEN’S HOSPITAL, Hurlingham, Nairobi.

Website: https://nwh.co.ke/hospital/

Location: Hurlingham, Nairobi.

Name: TEXAS CANCER CENTRE

Website: http://texascancercentre.co.ke/

Location: Argwings Kodhek Grove, Hurlingham, Nairobi

Name: OUTSPAN HOSPITAL

Website: https://outspanhospital.org/

Location: Nyeri

 

Name: ALEXANDRIA CANCER CENTRE AND PALLIATIVE CARE HOSPITAL

Website: http://www.alexandriahospital.co.ke/

Location: Eldoret- Lumumba Avenue Opposite Moi University School of Dentistry

Name: CANCER AWARENESS CENTER OF KENYA

Website: https://kenconetwork.org/

Location: KMA Centre, Mara Road, Upper Hill. Block D, 5th Floor Suite 5.3

Name: NAIROBI RADIOTHERAPY AND CANCER CENTRE

Website: https://nairobiradiotherapy.com/

Location: Kindaruma Road, Nairobi

Name: JANICE MEDICAL AND CANCER HOSPITAL

Website: https://www.janicecmchospital.org/

Location: Ngumo, Sunview Estate, Nairobi

Name: HCG CHEMOTHERAPY CANCER CENTRE UAP TOWER

Website:https://www.hcgoncology.com/cancer-centers/hcg-cck-cancer-centre-nairobi/

Location: Shivachi Road, Parklands, Nairobi, Kenya

Name: FARAJA CANCER SUPPORT TRUST

Website: https://farajacancersupport.org/

Location: HCG-CCK Cancer Centre, Parklands Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret

Name: CANCER CARE (K)

Website: http://www.cancercarekenya.com/

Location: Cancer Care Centre, Shivachi Rd, Nairobi

Name: KENYA NETWORK OF CANCER ORGANISATIONS (KENCO)

Website: https://kenconetwork.org/

Location: KMA Centre, Mara Road, Upper Hill. Block D, 5th Floor Suite 5.3

Name: MAKUPA CANCER CENTRE

Website: Not Available

Location: Nairobi County, Nairobi County, Langata, Woodley, Kenyatta Hospital

Name: KILIMANI CANCER CENTRE

Website: https://kilimanicancercentre.co.ke/

Location: Fortis Suites, Hospital Rd, Nairobi

Name: THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF KENYA

Website: https://ncikenya.go.ke/

Location: 6th Floor, Landmark Plaza, Off Argwings Kodhek Road, Upper Hill

Name: CANCER CARE INTERNATIONAL (CCI)

Website: https://cancercareinternational.org/

Location: Ground floor, Jadala Place, Ngong Lane Off Ngong Road, Nairobi, Kenya