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Cancer Institute to Conduct Two-Day Free Screening Camp

The camp will offer screenings for all types of cancer and aims to identify individuals at risk of developing cancer or those who may already have it to improve their survival rates.
08 Nov 2024 16:46
Executive Director of Cancer Institute in Middle addressing journalists

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Uganda Cancer Institute has designated a two-day free screening camp. 

The camp will offer screenings for all types of cancer and aims to identify individuals at risk of developing cancer or those who may already have it to improve their survival rates.  

Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, Head of Research and Training at the Uganda Cancer Institute, told journalists on Friday that people are often reluctant to undergo cancer checkups, especially if they show no symptoms, which increases the risk of late detection.   

He said that many individuals do not show signs of cancer until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, at which point treatment options are limited.  

He further noted that 70 to 80 percent of patients who visit the institute are already in stages three or four of cancer, where only pain management is possible, and little can be done to save their lives.  

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Dr Niyonzima said that despite free cancer screenings available at the institute, the two-day camp will be enhanced. 

“This is not to say that we don’t do screening every day, we have a static cancer screening clinic that is open Monday to Friday but we want to especially encourage people to come Monday and Tuesday, we shall be doing several cancer types of screening to detect cancer early and improve the odds of survival,”  

Cancer remains a major health challenge in Uganda. Estimates from the Uganda Cancer Institute for 2023 indicate that approximately 33,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, with over 80% identified at advanced stages.  

Among males, the most common cancers are prostate, oesophagus, Kaposi’s sarcoma, stomach, and liver cancers, while cervical, breast, oesophagus, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and stomach cancers are most frequent among females. Statistics also indicate that cancer causes an estimated 21,000 deaths in Uganda each year.  

Dr. Jackson Orem, the Executive Director of the Uganda Cancer Institute, stated that the institute’s primary policy focus is cancer prevention, and this initiative aligns with that goal.  

However, Dr Orem explained that before prevention can be effective, the public must be aware of the rising prevalence of various cancers affecting the population. The institute, therefore, aims to close the information gap in public awareness about cancer.  

Dr. Orem cited statistics indicating that, in 2000, only 3% of the Ugandan population was aware of cancer. Today, awareness has increased to 12%.  

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Dr. Fred Okuku, a medical oncologist and prostate cancer specialist, urged men to take advantage of the screening to detect prostate cancer early, enabling effective treatment before the condition worsens.  

Dr Okuku noted that prostate cancer is common among men over the age of 40, with symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination, weak urinary stream, blockages while urinating, and back pain.  

He further highlighted that prostate cancer takes seven to eight years to develop, meaning it is often in advanced stages by the time many men seek a diagnosis.  

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