There is a need to integrate and adapt recent developments in breast cancer care while taking into consideration resource-poor settings in Sub Saharan Africa so that patients receive the best care, according to speakers at the first
Annual International Breast Cancer Symposium.
Dr Miriam Mutebi, Lecturer and Breast Cancer Surgeon at Aga Khan University (AKU) and co-chair of the symposium, said the event offers global perspectives on best practices in the management of the disease while taki
Dr Miriam Mutebi, Breast Cancer Surgeon, Aga Khan University
ng into consideration resource-poor settings in Sub Saharan Africa.
“As a cancer patient, where you live in the world, should never be the determinant of the quality of care that you receive,” said Dr Mutebi. “The underlying ethos, when we conceptualized this forum, is that low-resource settings should not be equivalent to sub-optimal care. We envisage building a regional network that will allow us to constantly challenge ourselves as healthcare practitioners, policy makers, cancer advocate
"As a cancer patient, where you live in the world, should never be the determinant of the quality of care that you receive. "
Dr Mutebi, Breast Cancer Surgeon, Aga Khan University
s, and caregivers, to innovate, iterate and come up with region-specific, resource and culturally appropriate strategies to tackle cancer care. These strategies would incorporate internationally recommended best practices and would always have our patients, at the centre of our focus.”
Shawn Bolouki, Chief Executive Officer
Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi in his opening remarks highlighted the significance of the conference as as it comes at a time when the hospital is increasing its investment in modern technology for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Shubra Ghosh, Project Director for Global Programs at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, highlighted that in spite of the regional gains achieved over the past decade, there is still limited availability of breast conservation therapies, inadequate access to drugs, few oncology specialists and adherence to harmful socio-cultural beliefs and practices.
“The partnership between AKU and the local, regional and international oncology centres provides the platform for deliberations on the most recent updates in breast cancer diagnosis treatment, and palliative care.”
“In Kenya, statistics show that 70-80 per cent of cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage due to lack of awareness, inadequate diagnostic facilities, and increased cost of treatment compounded by the high poverty index,” said Dr Shahin Sayed, Assistant Professor of Pathology at AKU and chair of the symposium.
“Late stage disease has poor outcomes and is more costly to manage. In order to change this, it is important for policy makers to be engaged and to hear from both our local and international experts. We are greatly encouraged to have the Ministry of Health and National Institutes of Health, Kenya, playing a key role, as we build these critical partnerships,”
Kenya is currently ranked as one of the countries with the highest age specific rate of breast cancer in Africa, according to the 2012 GLOBOCAN report. Breast cancer ranks as the fifth cause of death from cancer overall and it is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women in less developed regions. This trend in Africa has been attributed to a change in the occurrence of established breast cancer risk factors that favours rising incidence. However, there is limited information about the challenges of cancer management and attempts at improving outcomes in Africa, according to speakers at the event.