10 to 15 years ago, cases of cancer in Kenya were isolated, and almost exclusively involved breast and uterine tissues, with a scattering of of throat and colon involvement.
At the moment, cancer appears to have overtaken AIDS as the most prevalent adult disease in our country. In truth, Kenya has some of the highest prevalence rates of cancer (all types) in Africa. Perhaps the Ministry of Health might want to establish a task force to urgently map out the predisposing factors. While I am no expert on cancer or anything medical, may I venture to suggest (below) some areas that need to be investigated in the development of the disease in Kenya. Please feel free to add your suggestions to the list below
a) All those old houses built 50 to 70 years ago, and scattered in many areas of Nairobi (and other towns) must contain elevated amounts of carcinogens such as asbestos
b) All those furnishing and home improvement products we have imported from China do not have clear disclosures on processes and contents
c) How much fake food/s are we consuming? I watched a documentary in youtube on fake eggs and rice from China circulated in Kenya and Uganda. What kind of chemicals are used to make false foods
d) Is there dumping of radioactive waste in far flung areas such as Marsabit? We eat a lot of livestock products from these areas, and such waste can get into the food chain. Radioactive waste is the baddest cause of particularly aggressive forms of cancer
e) What is the role of pesticides and herbicides in Kenyan cancer? For example, Naivasha is awash with chemicals used in the flower industry. These chemicals are finding their way into our water sources, meat, milk and poultry products
f) What is the role of the increased consumption in Kwinya of fast foods and sugar in the form of sodas and juices?
g) How much cancer is attributable to all the alcohol we consume?
Please help by adding other causes of cancer that you know might apply to Kenya.
Aflotoxin is one of the greatest carcinogens in Kenya. It is popular with our most essential food crop, maize. When processed as feeds, cows pass to milk while chicken pass to eggs. The directors of food inspection warned us over ten years ago how cancers case would rise now it’s happening. I think all we need is scientists to test all food and chemicals entering our country.
Very good thread. Sugar does not raise cancer risk but OBESITY does.
Smoking too, as well as alcohol.
These three have risen dramatically over the last 20 years.
Also, environmental pollution, contaminated food, HIV (lowered immunity manenoz), early sex onset but later parity etc etc.
Correction: cancer has always been there. Greater awareness and improved reportage as well as rise in population can give the illusion of higher prevalence when incidence per 100,000 is the same.
As I am reading this there is an article on The Standard newspaper page 4 highlighting how KEBS is complicit in the storage of radioactive materials in warehouses at a Mombasa port.
One in two human beings will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.
That is an official international Fact.
It’s hard to watch a loved one suffer from the effects of cancer but it’s delusional to think that we’re meant to live forever.
You’re born, you live, you die and the world goes on.
Make the most of every day you’re healthy and alive!
Yes… you heard me right!..
Half of us are cancer carriers.
You can eat veggies like a rabbit all your life and never drink or smoke and the next thing you’re being given six months to live with stage four brain cancer!
I am thinking of the community of 500 or so people (some of the nuclear family members retirees!) where we have lived together for nearly 20 years. we are close knit and work together on various issues such as death and major illnesses and i don’t remember cancer ever featuring among the problems we had to deal with.