By Dr. Solomon Mutua, Clinical Oncologist, The Nairobi West Hospital_
Every year, thousands of Kenyans are diagnosed with cancers of the mouth, throat and related structures—yet many only seek care when the disease is already advanced. As we mark Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, it is time to confront a growing but often overlooked public health challenge.
In Kenya, head and neck cancers account for about 10 per cent of all cancer cases—higher than the global average. This translates to a significant portion of the estimated 44,000 new cancer cases recorded annually. Despite this, awareness remains low, and early detection is rare.
Oral cancer alone contributes between 2 and 4 per cent of all cancers in Kenya, with studies showing prevalence rates of about 3.6 per cent in hospital-based data. While these figures may appear modest, the impact is disproportionate due to late diagnosis and high mortality rates.
The leading risk factors are well known. Tobacco and alcohol use account for the vast majority of cases—up to 85–90 per cent globally. Increasingly, however, we are seeing a shift driven by viral infections, particularly the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is now linked to a growing number of throat cancers, especially among younger patients.
What makes these cancers particularly dangerous is how quietly they develop. Early symptoms—such as persistent mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or unexplained lumps in the neck—are often ignored or mistaken for minor conditions. In many cases across East Africa, more than 80 per cent of patients present at advanced stages, when treatment becomes more complex and outcomes poorer.
There are also systemic challenges. Limited awareness, delayed referrals, and reliance on traditional remedies continue to hinder early diagnosis. Yet, these are cancers that are largely preventable and, when detected early, highly treatable.
Prevention begins with lifestyle choices. Avoiding tobacco in all its forms, moderating alcohol consumption, maintaining good oral hygiene, and seeking HPV vaccination where available can significantly reduce risk. Regular dental and medical check-ups also play a critical role in identifying suspicious lesions early.
At The Nairobi West Hospital, we are increasingly leveraging advanced diagnostic tools and multidisciplinary care to improve outcomes for patients with head and neck cancers. However, technology alone is not enough. Public awareness and timely action remain our strongest weapons.
This awareness week should serve as a reminder: a persistent ulcer is not just a wound, and a lingering sore throat is not always an infection. Listening to your body and seeking prompt medical attention could mean the difference between early, curable disease and a life-threatening diagnosis.
Oral and head and neck cancers may be silent—but with awareness, they do not have to be deadly.