By Morris Mwaringa,
Kilifi county residents have been encouraged to take an early cancer screening to ascertain their cancer status before taking necessary precautions or treatment.
Philip Mwasirya the director of Mephi hospital emphasized that cancer kills when not treated in its early stages.
He made the remarks after a walk to mark world cancer day in Kilifi County.
Fathia Hussein, one of the cancer survivors in the area, said that early detection and treatment of the disease is very critical.
According to her she was able to survive after being treated when the disease was still in its initial stages.
Residents who took part in the event said there is a need for a regular free cancer screening for the people so that many will get the chance to know their condition.
This year’s cancer day comes amid fears that global cancer cases will increase to 35 million by the year 2050. The world health organization’s cancer agency (WHO) estimates that by the end of the first half of the 21st century cases will have jumped by 77% over the number reported in 2022.
WHO’S (IARC) international Agency for Research on Cancer mentioned the use of tobacco and alcohol, obesity and poor air quality as the primary factors that contribute to the increase in the number of cases in the world.
The agency’s report, which is based on data from 185 countries and at least 36 types of cancer, said 9.7 million deaths from the disease were reported globally in 2022. One in five people is at risk of developing cancer in their lifetime according to the predictive data.
The agency’s report also cited the number of men dying from the disease to be higher than that of women. One in nine men are dying of cancer compared to about one in 12 women who die of the disease, the data from the agency showed.
