• Question: There has been an unending battle with cancer. Is there a hope for cancer full recovery for cervix cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer and other deadly cancer diseases. Is recovery guaranteed in our medical fields?

    Asked by debt16and to Alice, Boniface, George, Jacquie, Mary, Peter on 12 Feb 2021.
    • Photo: Jacquie Oliwa

      Jacquie Oliwa answered on 12 Feb 2021:


      I would not say guaranteed, because recovery/cure is dependent on so many factors, including they type of cancer, stage, one’s genetics, their immune status, their age, their mental status, other com-morbidities etc..
      Suffice to say, several cancers can be “curable” (the more appropriate term should be go into remission. The key thing is early detection and aggressive treatment. In Kenya, many of our cases are sadly identified at stage 3/4 which just means lower chances of survival beyond 5 years.

    • Photo: Boniface Oyugi

      Boniface Oyugi answered on 12 Feb 2021:


      Treating cancer depends on so many aspects such as point of diagnosis, the stage, cost of cure e.t.c. therefore, I may not use the word guaranteed. Nonetheless, several health workers/ facilities (such as http://texascancercentre.co.ke/) are putting in so much effort and resources into tackling the menace. In the meantime, research has shown that early diagnosis is cost-effective and helps avert deaths. Probably this is something we all need to do.

    • Photo: Mary Bitta

      Mary Bitta answered on 15 Feb 2021:


      I agree with my colleagues @Boniface and @Jackie that there are no guarantees for full recoveries but like Boniface says, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the chances of recovery. Also like with all other chronic diseases, the best guarantee is prevention where possible. For instance in the case of cervical cancer, there is a vaccine for women aged 9-26 years.

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