Experts Recommend Early Screening for Breast Cancer

Oncology specialists and public health experts in Kenya are strongly urging women to prioritize early screening for breast cancer, citing late diagnosis as a key driver of high mortality. According to Thika Level 5 Hospital, regular screening can significantly improve outcomes, and the facility recently hosted a free three-day breast and cervical cancer screening event to raise awareness.
Dr. Caroline Ngugi, Director of Training, Research and Innovation at Kenyatta University Teaching Referral Hospital (KUTRRH), has emphasized that many patients are presenting with advanced-stage breast cancer, making treatment much more difficult. She called for women to conduct self-examinations and to seek clinical evaluation promptly if they detect any abnormalities.
County leaders are also backing the call. In Uasin Gishu County, First Lady Salina Bii urged the public not to wait for symptoms before going for cancer screening, stressing that early detection can be the difference between life and death. Combined with clinical screening tools, she said, community outreach and regular checkups must become routine.
National cancer‑screening guidelines support this push. The 2024 National Cancer Screening Guidelines recommend clinical breast examinations (CBE) at all levels of care, with referral for mammograms (or ultrasound for younger women) when abnormalities are detected. Experts argue that if screening is done early and consistently, it could dramatically reduce late-stage diagnoses and improve survival rates.