Doctors link throat cancer cases to miraa chewing in Meru

Dr Linus Gitonga, head of palliative care unit at Chogoria Mission Hospital. He has claimed that many of patients suffering from throat cancer comes from areas where miraa is extensively chewed. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

Doctors at Chogoria Teaching and Referral Hospital in Tharaka-Nithi County say miraa (khat) chewing could be linked to increased throat cancer cases in areas where the stimulant is grown.

Speaking to the Nation on Thursday, the head of palliative care unit at the hospital, Dr Linus Gitonga, said a majority of cancer patients seeking care at the hospital come from northern parts of Meru and Mbeere in Embu where miraa chewing is common.

“According to the hospital data, almost all the throat cancer patients come from the miraa chewing regions and I think the two have some relationship,” said Dr Gitonga.

He called on the medical researchers to conduct a thorough research on whether there is a relationship between miraa chewing and throat cancer.

The hospital medical director, Dr Franklin Ikunda maintained that only research could determine whether miraa chewing is causing throat cancer.

“It is true most of the throat cancer patients in our hospital come from miraa regions but we cannot conclude it is the cause until a thorough medical research is conducted,” said Dr Ikunda.

PROSTATE CANCER

However, Dr Gitonga said prostate cancer is the most common in the region, surpassing breast cancer that is the most common nationally.

“Out of 255 patients receiving care in our palliative unit, 120 are suffering from prostate cancer,” he said.

He said the type of cancer is common in aging men.

He challenged men to shun the perception that cancer affects women mostly and take frequent check-ups.

“Few men go for cancer check-up unless there is some pain especially when urinating,” he said.

Breast cancer is the second common in the region according to the hospital data with 50 patients.

Dr Gitonga noted that breast cancer kills men faster than women despite the fact that most of men assume it’s a women illness.

“Women have bigger breast than men and the infection takes time to consume it, unlike men who have very small, making it extend into the lungs very fast,” said Dr Gitonga.

Ms Jedidah Gitonga, a patient in the hospital who has lived with breast cancer for 16 years said she was lucky the infection was discovered at an early stage and diagnosed in time.

She called on the people to attend regular check-ups and not to wait for signs of the illness.

However, she called on the government to offer free cancer treatment to reduce the deaths.

“An ordinary person cannot afford cancer treatment even in Kenyatta National Hospital,” said Mrs Gitonga.

She also claimed that the big number of cancer patients seeking treatment at KNH end up dying as they wait to be attended.

“Some patients get treatment after five months because of the bigger number of patients seeking treatment there some even from the neighbouring countries,” she said.

HARVESTING OF CEREALS

Last year, Meru County health executive Dr William Miraa said poor post-harvest handling of cereals was partly to blame for increased cancer cases in the area.
Dr Muraah also raised the alarm over high cancer cases in one location in Igembe, an area where miraa chewing is rampant.
He said 15 per cent of patients seeking radiation therapy treatment at KNH in Nairobi were from Meru.
“People used to die of cancer thinking they had been bewitched. The cancer is due to food people eat and exposure to chemicals,” Dr Muraah said.