By HENRY OWINO
Nairobi, Kenya – Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) an umbrella body of cancer NGOs based in Nairobi, Kenya, has come out strongly to caution cancer patients on myths and misconceptions on the treatment.
Many cancer patients in Africa’s rural areas where screening is inadequate could be wrongly diagnosed, while others link witchcraft to their unending sicknesses. Many cancer patients are being lured to take bitter concoctions, herbal drugs, eating certain parts of rodent species or wild fruits for cure.
The most being preferred is soursop fruits, sugar–apple, sweetsop, or custard apple fruits which are alleged to be effective in eliminating cancer. But cancer experts warn that there is no scientific research to prove the allegation so far.
KENCO is a big organization known for supporting and working together with patients, families, groups, and community-based cancer organizations on the ailment. It is very active in cancer awareness, education, screening, prevention and patient support in Kenya and East Africa.
This caution comes at a time when cases of cancer have become so rampant than experienced before.
Currently cancer is causing panic to thousands of individuals, families and homes as it drains financially. The young, old, male and female in Kenya are upset by this dreaded non-communicable infection.
Dr Boniface Mbuki, the Director of Cancer Awareness Centre says Cancer is a collection of over 100 diseases in which cells of an organ or tissue in the body become abnormal, growing and multiplying out of control. When cells grow out of control, they usually form a mass, called a tumour.
Dr Mbuki explains thousands of Kenya and East Africa patients sought cancer treatment in India an expensive affair in terms of air ticket, hospital bills, among other requirement. It is for this reason that the American Cancer Society Strengthening Organizations for a United Response to the Cancer Epidemic (SOURCE) Program, launched its branch in Kenya 2016 anchored at KENCO to support Africans.
The goal of the program is to strengthen cancer organizations and networks working in low-and-middle income countries. This is to help implement a more effective and collaborative response to the local cancer burden.
According to Dr Mbuki, it is a comprehensive competency-based training and technical assistance program designed to strengthen the systems. These include technicalities, financial and human resources of participating cancer organizations, wherever they are in their development process.
“There are different risks to different people for different cancers. Some cancers are known to pass down families’ hereditary like breast, ovary, colorectal/intestinal and pancreatic cancer,” Dr Mbuki explains.
“Therefore, those who have had a family member who has had such cancer would benefit from screening to assess risk and enable us to take necessary measures at early stage to prevent cancer,” the Doctor adds.
Other cancers are associated with age, viruses and lifestyle like smoking, stress, alcohol, bad sexual habits and diet for example, lung cancer, skin cancer, throat (nasopharyngeal), cervical cancer, and food pipe (oesophageal) cancer.
For those with normal risk, there are guidelines for when specific screening ought to be done to detect and prevent common cancers. For example; pap smears every 2 years from 21 years of age to screen for cervical cancer, mammogram 2 yearly to screen for breast cancer in women above 40 years and colonoscopy every two years for intestinal cancer in populations above 40 years of age.
The Cancer Treatment Center offers screening programs that address cancer concerns for individuals at affordable cost.
Dr. Mbuki said some tumours grow and enlarge only at the site where they begin and these are referred to as benign tumours. Others not only enlarge locally but also have the potential to invade and destroy surrounding normal tissue and to spread to distant parts of the body. These are called malignant tumours or cancers.
“Let me also explain that, istant spread of a cancer occurs when malignant cells become detached from the original (primary) tumour, get carried to other parts of the body and establish themselves in the new site as an independent (secondary) cancer,’’ Dr Mbuki says.
A tumour that has spread in this manner is said to have metastasized and the secondary tumour(s) is called a metastasis (or metastases).
“However, not all cancers form solid tumours. For example, in cancer of the blood cells (leukaemia) many abnormal blood cells are made in the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream,” Dr Mbuki clarified.
Therefore, cancer is not caused by witchcraft or any form of supernatural forces. Cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, anywhere, in any country, at any time. Cancer is a complex group of diseases with many possible causes.
Dr. Philip Odiyo stated some other known causes of cancer include genetic factors, lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet and physical inactivity.
Dr Odiyo expounded it may be as result of certain types of infections. “Some viruses are linked to certain cancers.” For instance, those with persistent infection with the Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus have an increased risk of developing cancer of the liver.” Dr Odiyo pointed.
The other could be environmental exposures to different types of chemicals and radiation.
“The age could be a contributing factor because the older you are, the more likely that you will develop a cancer. This is probably due to a buildup of damage to cells in the body over time.” Dr Odiyo added.
Also, the body’s defences and resistance against abnormal cells may become weaker as one gets older.
Those with a compromised immune system have an increased risk of developing certain cancers. For example, people with HIV/AIDS, or people on immunosuppressive treatment are most likely to suffer from cancer.
Taking lots of protective foods such as fruits help boost body immune systems hence reduce chances of developing cancer.
According to Dr Maureen Momanyi,currently,the much rumoured myths and misconceptions about cancer is not true. The following are some instances; Cancer is a death sentence, Cancer is witchcraft,Cancer can be cured by herbal treatment including concoctions and chang’aa (illicit brews).
Others claim nothing can be done to stop the further spread of cancer,Cancer is a punishment or curse from God caused by breaking some rules, a pregnant mother with cancer will automatically give birth to a child with cancer among others.
“You know the seriousness of cancer. You know the toll it takes mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually, and physically,” Dr. Mamanyi sympathized.
She noted it causes stress in one own mind and body as well as in relationships with friends and family. Cancer treatments can make it hard to do the things you’ve always done as a human being, a parent, or an employee.
“Dr Momanyi implied: “here is nothing in your daily existence that cancer doesn’t touch. It is an exhausting villain to fight and it wipes you out in so many ways that are hard to explain to people who haven’t felt the impact of this horrific disease in their own lives”.
Together with myths and misconceptions, many patients die due to discouragements and propaganda in the community they live.
Dr Momanyi advises, to dispel these myths and misconceptions about Cancer there is need to talk about cancer freely. Talk to friends, neighbors, children and family members.
Share Cancer Resource Guides with community organizations such as churches, schools, community centers in marketplace, Chief Baraza,funerals among other gatherings.
Contact local clinic for testing, use the Cancer Resource Guide to find information about a clinic near you regularly.
Talk to a dietician or nutritionist about specific foods to help fight cancer, work together with others experts to get Cancer out of the dark and into the light.
“As a community, we can break the stigma of Cancer, and fight cancer together! “Don’t wait, act now!”Dr Momanyi advised.
