Why cases of uterine cancer are rising in Kenya
Once less prominent than cervical and breast cancer, uterine cancer's rising incidence rates and alarmingly high rates of late-stage diagnoses are demanding urgent national attention.
What you need to know:
- Kenya records approximately 829 new cases of uterine cancer and 257 deaths annually, placing it among the top 20 cancers affecting women in the country.
Uterine cancer is rapidly emerging as a significant public health concern in Kenya, according to the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI Kenya).
Once less prominent than cervical and breast cancer, its rising incidence rates and alarmingly high rates of late-stage diagnoses are demanding urgent national attention.
This shift is attributed to factors such as increased life expectancy, evolving reproductive health trends, and changing lifestyles among Kenyan women.
Key risk factors identified include delayed childbearing and declining fertility rates, limited access to regular gynecological care and screening, particularly in rural areas, low public awareness regarding the subtle symptoms of uterine cancer and a growing prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders, even among younger women
According to data from the National Cancer Registry, Kenya records approximately 829 new cases of uterine cancer and 257 deaths annually, placing it among the top 20 cancers affecting women in the country. These figures are corroborated by Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which reports a steady increase in gynaecologic cancer referrals, with uterine cancer constituting a growing proportion.
As of 2022, a total of 28,377 new cancer cases were recorded among females. Breast cancer was the most prevalent, accounting for 7,243 cases (25.5 per cent). cervical cancer followed with 5,845 cases (20.6 per cent). Oesophagus cancer ranked third with 1,724 cases (6.1 per cent), while colorectal cancer represented 1,599 cases (5.6 per cent). Ovarian cancer was the fifth most common with 1,245 cases (4.4 per cent). All other cancer cases collectively accounted for a significant portion, totaling 10,721 cases (37.8 per cent).
Clinicians report that most uterine cancer patients are diagnosed between ages 50 and 65, typically postmenopausal, and often present with abnormal uterine bleeding.
A retrospective review of cases at KNH between 2015 and 2022 highlighted that over 60 per cent of patients were diagnosed at advanced stages (Stage III or IV), severely limiting treatment effectiveness and worsening prognosis.
Younger women
Studies from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital indicate a worrying demographic shift, with younger women increasingly presenting with early symptoms.
"Uterine cancer diagnosis in Kenya is hindered by limited diagnostic capacity, particularly outside major urban centers. Many public hospitals lack equipment for transvaginal ultrasound, histopathology, and advanced imaging. At KNH, diagnosis is often delayed due to long waiting times for biopsy results," reads a report by NCI Kenya.
Treatment, which typically involves a total abdominal hysterectomy often followed by radiation or chemotherapy, faces significant hurdles. There is a critical shortage of radiation therapy machines, with only a handful of public facilities offering this vital service. This forces many patients to endure months of waiting or undertake arduous journeys to access treatment, often with detrimental effects on their outcomes.
To reduce uterine cancer deaths, the cancer institute recommends tailored educational initiatives to inform Kenyan women about the symptoms and risk factors of uterine cancer, encouraging early presentation to healthcare facilities.
The institute also recommends investing in and equipping health facilities at county and sub-county levels with necessary diagnostic tools to reduce delays and improve early detection.
NCI Kenya is also calling for subsidised treatment through the Social Health Authority so as to make cancer treatment affordable and accessible, easing the financial burden on patients and their families.
Other strategies include training more gynaecologic oncologists, nurses, and pathologists, and integrating uterine cancer education into reproductive health services.
According to Centres for Disease Control, the most common type of uterine cancer is also called endometrial cancer because it forms in the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. All women are at risk for uterine cancer as long as they have a uterus, and the risk increases with age.
Uterine cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of uterine cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.
