Cancer has become one of the most devastating diseases facing Kenya and the world. For many Kenyans, a cancer diagnosis is feared almost as much as any other major illness because of the financial burden, emotional toll and, in many cases, the difficulty of accessing treatment.

According to estimates from Kenya’s cancer authorities, the country records tens of thousands of new cancer cases and cancer-related deaths every year. Recent estimates put the annual number of new cases at about 47,000, while deaths are estimated at more than 30,000 annually.

These numbers translate into hundreds of Kenyans being diagnosed with cancer and many others losing their lives every week.

But behind every statistic is a family.

Cancer can affect people at almost any age, although the risk of developing many cancers increases as people grow older. Some cancers are also more common in one sex than the other. Prostate cancer, for instance, affects men, while breast and cervical cancers are among the major cancers affecting women.

The question, therefore, is not whether cancer is a serious threat. It is.

The bigger question is: What can Kenyans do to reduce their risk, detect cancer early and improve their chances of survival?

Cancer Is Killing Thousands of Kenyans Every Year — But We Can Change the Story

Prevention and Early Detection Are Our Best Weapons

The fight against cancer does not begin in a hospital. In many cases, it begins with the choices we make every day.

Prevention cannot eliminate every form of cancer because some risk factors are beyond an individual's control. However, adopting healthier habits can reduce the risk of several cancers and other chronic diseases.

1. Take Your Lifestyle Seriously

Some everyday habits can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer.

Tobacco use is one of the most important preventable causes of cancer and is strongly associated with lung cancer as well as several other cancers.

Alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of several cancers, including cancers affecting the liver, breast, mouth, throat and oesophagus.

A healthier lifestyle can therefore become an important line of defence.

Eat a varied and balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other fibre-rich foods.

Stay physically active. You do not necessarily need an expensive gym membership. Walking, jogging, cycling, household activities and other forms of regular physical activity can all contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

Avoid tobacco and, if you drink alcohol, limit your consumption. The less alcohol consumed, the lower the risk of alcohol-related cancers.

The goal is not perfection. It is consistency.

2. Don't Ignore Screening and Warning Signs

Prevention alone is not enough. Early detection can make a significant difference in cancer treatment and survival.

Many cancers can be treated more effectively when detected before they have advanced or spread to other parts of the body. This is why screening and timely medical attention are so important.

However, screening is not a one-size-fits-all exercise.

The appropriate screening test and the age at which someone should begin screening can depend on the type of cancer, age, family history, personal risk factors and the guidelines being followed.

Women should seek appropriate cervical cancer screening according to national health guidelines and their individual circumstances. Breast health should also be taken seriously, with women encouraged to understand their breasts and seek medical attention when they notice unusual changes.

Men should discuss prostate cancer screening with a qualified healthcare professional, particularly as they get older or if they have increased risk because of family history or other factors.

Everyone should seek medical attention for persistent or unexplained symptoms.

Unusual bleeding, unexplained weight loss, persistent pain, unexplained lumps, changes in bowel or bladder habits, prolonged cough or other unusual changes should not simply be dismissed or treated repeatedly through self-medication.

Early diagnosis can mean the difference between a manageable disease and a much more complicated and expensive treatment journey.

3. Cancer Should Not Be a Nairobi-Only Conversation

For years, access to specialised cancer services has been a major challenge for Kenyans outside major urban centres.

Patients from counties far from Nairobi have often had to travel long distances for specialised investigations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other forms of cancer care.

That reality has placed enormous pressure on patients and their families.

Kenya has been working to expand cancer services beyond Nairobi through the development and strengthening of oncology and radiotherapy services in regional and county referral hospitals.

This decentralisation is important because cancer treatment should not depend on how close a patient lives to the capital.

A patient in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Garissa or another county should be able to access essential cancer services without having to travel hundreds of kilometres simply to receive basic specialised care.

But building facilities is only part of the solution.

The country also needs enough specialists, modern equipment, reliable medicines, pathology services, diagnostic capacity and sustainable financing to ensure that these facilities can actually deliver quality cancer care.

Can SHA Help Families Facing Cancer?

The cost of cancer treatment remains one of the biggest fears for patients and their families.

The transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund to the Social Health Authority has therefore raised an important question: What cancer treatment does the new health insurance system actually cover?

The Social Health Insurance Fund provides benefits for cancer care, including specified diagnostic and treatment services. However, patients should not assume that every cancer-related expense is automatically covered or that a single annual figure applies universally to every patient and treatment.

Coverage can depend on the applicable benefits package, treatment required, facility and other conditions.

For that reason, patients and caregivers should confirm their specific benefits and any applicable limits directly with SHA or an accredited healthcare facility before beginning treatment.

This is particularly important because cancer care can involve several stages, including diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, medicines and follow-up care.

Knowing what your health cover provides can help families plan rather than being caught off guard when treatment begins.

Cancer Is Not Automatically a Death Sentence

A cancer diagnosis is devastating, but it should not automatically be interpreted as a death sentence.

The outcome can depend on the type of cancer, the stage at diagnosis, the patient's overall health and the treatment available.

This is why Kenyans must take prevention, screening and early medical attention seriously.

The government, meanwhile, must continue investing in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care while ensuring that health facilities outside Nairobi have the resources they need.

The public also has a role to play.

We must stop normalising persistent symptoms, relying on self-medication indefinitely or waiting until a disease becomes unbearable before seeking medical help.

Cancer will remain one of Kenya's biggest health challenges.

But the story does not have to end with a diagnosis.

Prevention can reduce risk. Screening can detect disease early. Timely treatment can save lives. And accessible health insurance can prevent families from being pushed into financial ruin.

The fight against cancer is therefore not the responsibility of hospitals and doctors alone.

It is a responsibility shared by individuals, families, communities and the government.

And in this fight, acting early may be one of the most powerful decisions any Kenyan can make.

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Cancer Is Killing Thousands of Kenyans Every Year — But We Can Change the Story