Rahatupu wrote:@jguru, thanks for very informed advise-invaluable.
@Githundi and @peppy,imezidi. cancer is so widespread we may never know the extent without a proper national survey and records on the same are scanty and not centralized. Add in the fact that many people are not diagnozed with the ailment even when they die.
The situation gets worse when you factor in misdiagnosis which results in late detection of cancer. My friend has been in and out of hospitals with stomach complaints for over two years. All the while being treated for ulcers, constipation.... sad situation.
The only solution to cancer is early diagnosis and this can only be done with routine testing. But this sort of screening and surveillance is very expensive and most Kenyans are a poor lot. Ideally, everyone should go for comprehensive health check-ups annually.
Speak to your MPs and politicians. I don't know how legally possible it is, but they should change the laws to allow you to sue a doctor in a court of law directly without going through the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (their interests lie with the docs).
For example, failing to do an OGD for a circa 40yr old patient with sudden onset dyspepsia who later develops stage IV stomach cancer is criminal medical negligence. That doctor should be deregistered & made to pay damages.
Set out to correct the world's wrongs and you will most certainly wind up adding to them.