FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANCER

For centuries cancer has remained a big menace in the society research indicate that it accounts for more than 7% deaths in Kenya, and causes more deaths than the deadly HIV, Malaria and TB. The society has however, remained ignorant about cancer’s fact files. Due to lack of sensitization, many people have died for not seeking the right medical attention. Enmity has sprout among relatives and community members where a person who suffered miserably from cancer is believed to be bewitched by jealous counterpart. This raises the question of what is it that people need to know bout cancer?

Cause: Cancer is one of the diseases that have many possible causes. The main cause is however gene mutation. It should however been realized that every person has a cancer cell located somewhere in the body, When interfered with a gene mutation occurs. A gene mutation can tell a cell to grow and divide more rapidly than it is supposed creating many cells that all have a similar mutation. Besides, normal cells know when to stop growing so that a person has just the right number of each type of cell. A gene mutation is a tumor suppressor as it arouse cancer cell to continue growing and accumulating uncontrollably.

Genetic mutation is caused by various factors.First, you can be be born with a genetic mutation that you inherited from parents. This however accounts for a small percentage of cancers. Secondly, gene mutation can occur after birth. This is caused by such forces as smoking, radiation, viruses, carcinogens, obesity, chronic inflation and lack of exercise.Gene mutation happens frequently during normal cell growth. However, cells contain mechanism that recognizes when a mistake occurs and repairs it. A mistake missed occasionally causes a cell to become cancerous.

Types:Every time a person mentions cancer, it is programmed in society’s mind that is all about lung cancer for men and breast cancer for women. This is a myth because any part of body can me infected as long as cells exists there.However the most common types of cancer are breast cancer that forms in the cells of breast,. Prostate cancer which forms in men’s prostate glands, Basal which is a type of skin cancer that begins in the basal cells.Melanoma cancer,colon cancer,lung cancer,leukemia and lymphoma. There are more than a hundred forms of cancer named after the organ or tissue where the cancer forms or described by the type of cell that formed them.

Symptoms: Signs and symptoms associated with cancer vary depending on what part of the body is affected. The main sign is persistent abnormal pain on a body part, mostly that which is affected. In addition, one can have a lump that is felt under the skin accompanied by body temperature of above a hundred degrees Celsius.These symptoms may however be of a different illness and thus the best way to detect cancer is going for cancer screening.

Treatment: There are many types of cancer treatment. The type you receive will depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Some people have only one type of treatment while most have a combination of two. For instance, one can have surgery where the cancer is removed from the body. Other forms of treatment include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, Targeted therapy, Hormonotherapy and stem cell transplant.

These treatments are an assurance that once you are screened with cancer,you are not condemned to immediate death. You still have a chance to live longer because the treatment procedures help to fight the multiplication of cells.

Kenya’s situation:Kenya’s leading cancer infection are breast and cervical cancer for women and prostate and esophageal for men. Most cases are diagnosed in late stages due to lack of awareness while others out of ignorance tend to think it’s witchcraft.Inadequate facilities and cost of treatment has also led to deaths that would otherwise be controlled.

In the past, cancer claimed great personalities such as Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Wangari Maathai, Nderitu Gachagua, Janet Kanini Ikua among others.At the same point, we have lost friends or relatives and we are left in deep tears. Again, a good number of families has gone bankrupt from managing the disease while others are surfacing loans taken to treat cancer. Those who can afford it fly overseas to seek specialized treatment worth millions of shillings only to succumb to the disease. Some have been declared cancer free only for the disease to recur in a more potent version.

Most patients in Kenya tend to lose hope when they test positive for cancer because of financial implication of treating the disease and poor history of recovery. It is however such a relief because cancer awareness foundation have been formed to support those affected. They are also on front line creating awareness to counter myths. For instance, we have Meds which is a faith base medical supply chain and capacity building organization that provide medical and medicine supply in Kenya and region. The county governments are collaborating with the organization to help with controlling cancer. Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga and Elgeyo Marakwet are some of the beneficiaries.

Diagnosis with cancers is not the end of life because if discovered at an early stage, it is treatable.We lose it when we just wait for the October international cancer day for screening. Ensure that you are safe by doing cancer screening as oftenly as possible. Cancer is real, neither is a curse nor witchcraft.