Oncologists at Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) have made a disturbing revelation that they are unable to cure cancer patients because they report for diagnosis late – when the disease is at an advanced stage.
Dr. Fred Okuku, Consultant Oncologist at Uganda Cancer Institute, told journalists in Kampala on Friday that most people come late for screening and treatment because they don’t know about these cancers.
He said screening is for people who don’t have symptoms because cancer is a disease that may be present in the body without symptoms.
“According to data as you have been told, 70% of our patients come late, that means we cannot cure them,” Dr Okuku said.
Uganda Cancer Institute and partners will conduct a 2 day mass Cancer screening taking place on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th November at the Institute in Kampala.
The activity is sponsored by Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH).
This campaign, according to Dr Okuku, is to ensure that ‘we reduce on that 70 percent.’ “If people come early, they can be cured of cancer. Most of the cancers can be cured if the patient comes early,” he said.
Prostate cancer alarm
The Institute has raised concern about the rising number of prostate cancer cases among Ugandan men. Over 3,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually, often at advanced stages.
Dr Okuku revealed that prostate Cancer is the leading Cancer affecting men above 40. He urged Men with a family history of prostate cancer to come for screening next week.
Dr. Jatho Alfred, Head Community Cancer Control Program at Uganda Cancer Institute, urged men to prioritize their prostate health and get screened next week.
Women and cervical cancer
Dr. Origa Martin, Head of Gynecology Unit at Uganda Cancer Institute revealed that cervical cancer is the leading cancer affecting women. He urged parents to vaccinate their girls against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer.
Breast cancer in men
Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, Head Research & Training Uganda Cancer Institute, revealed that about 4-5% of all the Breast Cancer Patients are men.
He noted that men don’t usually go to hospital and when they go they’re more likely to have more advanced cancer than women.
“Biologically, because they have smaller breasts than women, the cancers spreads very fast because it has nowhere else to spread,” Dr Niyonzima said.
