Involve more stakeholders to create cancer awareness among Kenyans

NAIROBI: There is no doubt that cancer is on the increase globally. There is also no doubt that in Kenya people are becoming more aware that cancer, like many other non-communicable diseases like diabetes, has become more life threatening. What Kenyans do not seem to grasp are two things. One, that there are many ways of “reasonably keeping safe from being attacked by cancer” which are within the reach of most Kenyans. Two, that if cancer is discovered early — and this depends on how well we know ourselves health wise — it can be successfully treated.

Over four years ago I discovered that I had prostate cancer. This was very difficult news to take. Remember I was then the Minister for Medical Services and it was fair to assume that I should have known what to do when that message was delivered to me by the doctor. The truth is I didn’t. Though I had been taking annual medical tests to know my health status I was not fully aware at what time prostate cancer becomes life threatening and what I was to do on knowing that I was a victim!