Abstract:
Setting Basic epidemiological information on childhood
cancer in Western Kenya is lacking. This deficit
obstructs efforts to improve the care and survival rates
of children in this part of the world.
Objective Our study provides an overview of childhood
cancer patients presenting for treatment in Western
Kenya.
Design A retrospective analysis of childhood cancer
patients presenting for treatment in Western Kenya
was carried out using information from three separate
databases at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in
Eldoret. All patients aged 0–19 years first presenting
between January 2006 and January 2010 with a newly
diagnosed malignancy were included.
Results A total of 436 children with cancer were
registered during the period. There were 256 (59%) boys
and 180 (41%) girls with a male/female ratio of 1.4:1. The
group aged 6–10 years contained most children (29%).
Median age at admission was 8 years. Non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma was the most common type of cancer
(34%), followed by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
(15%), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (8%), nephroblastoma (8%),
rhabdomyosarcoma (7%), retinoblastoma (5%) and
Kaposi’s sarcoma (5%). Only four (1%) children with
brain tumours were documented. Ewing’s sarcoma was
not diagnosed.
Conclusions Our study provides an overview of
childhood cancer patients presenting for treatment
in Western Kenya. The distribution of malignancies is
similar to findings from other equatorial African countries
but differs markedly from studies in high-income
countries. The new comprehensive cancer registration
system will be continued and extended to serve as
the basis for an evidence-based oncology program.
Eventually this may lead to improved clinical outcomes
