The hope is alive for cancer patients while the region is endowed with a new technology: the standard

Cancer patients will benefit from a new radiation technique that not only increases the effectiveness, but also reduces the side effects of powerful rays.

The new linear accelerator or linear accelerator called Halcyon is the latest radiation technology that has found its way into the region via Nairobi West Hospital.
Other countries that have adopted equipment are the United States, Belgium, Morocco, South Africa, and India.
Unlike conventional radiotherapy equipment, this latest model developed in 2017 offers precision by directing the rays towards the actual tumor. "In this way, we treat cancer with high doses of radiation, while taking care of other body structures. Basically, we hit the tumor hard, while minimizing the side effects, "said Dr. Solomon Mutua, a clinical oncologist specializing in cancer treatment with targeted agents in chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

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Dr. Mutua said the machine was producing radiation in record time of two minutes compared to the old model where a patient had to spend about 40 minutes below it.
With this advancement, patients feel less anxiety. "It also means that you can manage more patients based on hospital staff. Basically, between 50 and 70 patients, "he said.
Most patients depend on the Kenyatta National Hospital for radiation therapy sessions, which has resulted in long queues and some patients are being cared for several months after diagnosis.
George Lemiyian, 47, is one of those patients. In May 2016, he had been recommended for 36 radiotherapy sessions after surgery to remove a tumor from the growth of his leg. It was then sent to KNH from Nakuru.
"I was shocked when we told KNH that I had to wait four months because all the dates were complete," Lemayian said. Although it remains the preferred destination for cancer treatment, KNH has struggled to adopt new technologies.

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How it works
The new linac technique also uses VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) and IGRT (Image-Oriented Radiotherapy) technologies that do not allow a radiologist to do any radiation before taking an image to determine the progress of the image. patient. "In such cases, errors are kept to a minimum," said Dr. Mutua.
Nairobi West Hospital will officially unveil the equipment on March 4th. It will become the second private facility to purchase advanced equipment for oncology. On February 4, the Aga Khan Hospital also unveiled its positron emission tomography (PET) equipment, the only one of its kind in the region. However, although the linac is a treatment equipment, that of the Aga Khan is intended for diagnosis.
Although private institutions appear to be moving rapidly towards President Uhuru Kenyatta's four major goals of universal health coverage (UHC) program, the Ministry of Health has yet to deliver on its promise to create 10 cancer centers in former provincial hospitals. Dr. Isaac Odongo, head of curative treatments at the ministry, said the government would have five years to set up the centers. It was then that the ministry revealed that cancer was making 33,000 victims a year, including 48,000 new cases over the same period.

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Cancer Patients Nairobi West Hospital in Halcyon Dr. Solomon MutuaKNH