KUTRRH is pleased to introduce a COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CARE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE. Breast cancer is the leading cancer in Kenya with an annual incidence of 6,000 new cases and 2,500 deaths. One reason for the high mortality rate is the lack of early diagnosis and screening practices.
The starting of the Comprehensive Breast Care Center at KUTRRH will help bridge the cancer care gap in Africa at large by providing readily available and timely curative services for breast-related conditions. The center is dedicated to offering holistic, quality patient-centered breast care, diagnosis, and management of patients.
Our Breast Care Center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and a dedicated team of specialists ranging from surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, oncology nurses, nutritionists and counsellors who work together to provide excellent and quality patient-centered care.
The Breast Cancer center cares for patients, both male and female diagnosed with benign or malignant breast diseases. In addition family members benefit from health education, counselling and other ancillary services that will help in rehabilitation of the patient after undergoing treatment.
Walk-in services offered
(i) Screening:
Breast cancer screening means checking the breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help detect breast cancer early. While screening is open to men and women of all ages, it is recommended that women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years.
(ii) Mammography:
Mammography is a type of screening used to detect breast cancer in people who have no warning signs or symptoms thus the most effective since it can detect cancer at an early stage when the survival chances are highest. It uses X-rays to create images of the breast called mammograms. Should the result raise “a flag” then a diagnostic mammogram is carried out to ascertain if the tissue is cancerous. A biopsy is then carried out, if in order to diagnose or rule out breast cancer.
(iii) Ultrasound Services:
Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to make images of the breast known as sonograms. It is usually used as a follow up test after an abnormal finding on a mammogram, breast MRI or clinical breast exam. It is also used during a needle biopsy to help guide the procedure.
(iv) Consultations:
A team of dedicated specialists readily offer all the necessary information that can help in providing an accurate diagnosis of a patient’s condition by reviewing their medical history. The oncologist also explains the situation and answers any questions that may arise to ensure that the patient is enlightened about everything they ought to know.
(v) Counselling Services:
Since KUTRRH prioritizes quality patient-centered care, our mental health professionals help patients and their families to cope with the challenges that come along with a cancer diagnosis. They help in understanding the feelings and reactions and provide a safe place to talk about the patient’s worries.
(vi) Nutritional Counselling:
The nutrition needs of people with cancer vary from person to person thus our nutritional team helps individual patients to identify their nutrition goals and plan ways to help them be achievable. Nutritional counselling is vital since eating well during cancer treatment makes the patient feel better, keep up the strength and energy, maintain weight and body’s store of nutrients, lowers the risk of infection and aids in fast recovery.
(vii) Support Groups:
KUTRRH enables oncology patients to find a support group as a way of interaction with other people who have similar, first-hand experiences with cancer. Being part of a support group often creates a sense of belonging that helps each person feel more understood, less lonely and helps to reduce stress since they share experiences. They also discuss what to expect during treatment, how to manage specific side effects, how to find support services, and how to communicate with health care providers and family members. This could provide a sense of control and reduce feelings of helplessness as one copes with cancer.
Referral services offered
(i) Imaging Guided Biopsy
An image-guided breast biopsy removes a small sample of breast tissue or cell for examination under a microscope to see if cancer or other abnormalities are present. For imaging, mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI may be used depending on the location of the abnormality and how it has been seen.
(ii) Fine Needle Aspirant (FNA)
During Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA), a small amount of breast tissue or fluid is removed from a suspicious area with a thin, hollow needle and checked for cancer cells. FNA is more often used if the suspicious area is likely to be a fluid filled sac (a cyst). By removing the fluid, the FNA can often help relieve pain from the cyst. FNA can also be helpful if the doctor is unsure if an area seen on an imaging test is a small cyst or a solid mass.
(iii) Treatment Plans
Oncology experts prepare a cancer treatment plan for the patients which helps to lay out the expected path of treatment. The document is created and given to the patient and doctors that may need to know the planned course of care. The plan helps with communication because it keeps everyone informed.