Kikuyu residents have been urged to go for early cancer screening to allow medics manage the deadly disease.
Jane Kago, a oncologist at Kikuyu Hospital, Kiambu County said that early diagnosis of the disease is the best way to treat cancer.
Speaking on Tuesday at the hospital's premises during a free cancer screening session, Kago urged residents to make regular visits to hospitals to have them tested.
“Cancer has become a life-threatening disease that needs attention like other diseases, cancer patients should seek urgent treatment to avoid late complications,” she said.
Kago observed that late treatment of the disease had made it difficult to manage.
“Most patients seek medical attention when the disease is at advanced stages making it difficult to contain,” said Kago.
The oncologist said with introduction of modern state-of-art cancer equipment at county levels, it is a great reprieve to those seeking cancer treatments.
“Cancer treatment at county levels is a great move that will ease congestion at the referral hospitals,” she noted.
The national government has released Sh38 billion to purchase machines to treat cancer at county levels.
Kago hailed the government's initiative, saying that the treatment of cancer at private hospitals is beyond the reach of many Kenyans.
During the session, over 200 residents were screened and four were detected with the disease, and were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for radiotherapy sessions.
Kago urged the cancer patients to finish radiotherapy sessions once they start treatment.
Statistics from Ministry of Health indicate that at least 27,000 deaths in the country are claimed by cancer.