An oncologist attached in Kiambu Town has urged residents to go for early cancer screenings.
Dr Moses Kabugi of the St Anne Medical Laboratory said that early screening of cancer helps to control the disease which has become life-threatening to most people .
Speaking today at Kiambu Town to commemorate World Cancer Day, Kabugi said that cancer is curable if it is detected early.
“Early screening and diagnosis of cancer offers the best chance to treat the disease,” said Kabugi.
He urged women to make regular visits to health centres and have themselves checked because women tend to be most afflicted and more prone to cancer.
“Breast and cervical cancers are the most common among women while prostate cancer accounts for most death among men,” said Kabugi.
Kabugi expressed his concern over limited cancer equipment and said that the fight against the disease is complicated by shortfalls of oncologists.
“The country has two radiotherapy machines which are not enough to cope with large numbers of cancer patients seeking treatment,” said Kabugi .
He urged the national government to buy more state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment to help treat the ever increasing number of patients seeking treatment.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that cancer is ranked the third highest cause of deaths after infections and cardiovascular diseases in the country.
World Cancer Day 2015 saw more than 200 residents screened for cancer at no cost. Those found with signs of cancer were immediately referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for further treatment.