Page 32 - KMD 2022-23 EDITION

Health News
nuclear medicine procedure for men
with prostate cancer. PSMA PET scans are
currently most commonly used in two
different clinical scenarios; (1) in men with
newly diagnosed prostate cancer who are
at risk of having disease spread outside
the prostate (this is called metastasis),
and (2) men who have previously been
treated for their prostate cancer with
curative intent (e.g. with surgery and/
or radiation) and now have suspected
persistent or recurrent disease based
rising levels of prostate specific antigen
(PSA) in their blood.

PSMA Scanning The PSMA-PET can detect prostate
cancer cells hiding in lymph nodes that
The PSMA PET scan is now available at the Kenyatta University appear normal in size, even when the
Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital’s Integrated Molecular level of prostate specific antigen (PSA)
Imaging Centre (KUTRRH-IMIC). Introducing PSMA-PET level is low. PSMA is also useful for finding
is a milestone that brings hope to Kenyans and the larger prostate cancer that has spread to other
Sub-Saharan region. As the first public facility offering the parts of the body. This means the scan
PSMA service, it is truly a game changer in precision cancer can identify prostate cancer that is both
diagnosis. in and outside the prostate gland. The
PSMA scan is currently thus the best
The Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET scan available for men with persistent or
(Positron Emission Tomography) scan is a new type of recurrent prostate cancer after treatment.

Comprehensive breast Care Centre equipment is the second in Africa after Egypt and
marks a key milestone towards advanced robotic
In October 2022, Kenyatta University Teaching, radiosurgery treatment in Kenya. The equipment
Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH) officially is a valuable addition to the Nation’s cutting-edge
launched a Comprehensive Breast Care Centre. capacity in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Besides
The Centre provides a one-stop shop for screening, cancerous tumor treatment, the Cyberknife can be
diagnostics, and treatment for breast care used to treat a variety of non-cancerous tumors
conditions, including breast cancer. using a non-invasive approach. Unlike traditional
surgery, there is no excision, and the treatment is
Breast Cancer is the cause of most cancer-related often delivered in a single session.
deaths in women globally. In Kenya, cancer is the
third leading cause of death, with 6,000 breast Owing to its precise treatment with sub-millimeter
cancer diagnoses and 2,500 deaths annually. Early accuracy, it is globally acclaimed as the best
detection of breast cancer, combined with effective treatment for brain tumors, lung cancer, prostate
and early treatment options, therefore are critical cancer, meningiomas, vascular malfunctions,
to reducing the mortality rate of breast cancer among others.
patients.
The move to introduce the new treatment at
Cyberknife KUTRRH is in tandem with the Government’s efforts
As part of the Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre to provide quality and affordable treatment to all.
KUTRRH in October 2022 received the much- The Cyberknife treatment will therefore be fully
awaited Cyberknife. The robotic radiosurgery covered by NHIF.

30 Kenya Medical Directory