Nakuru County boosts cancer treatment with advanced Radiotherapy machine

Nakuru County is set to enhance its cancer diagnosis and treatment capabilities with the installation of a third advanced radiotherapy machine.

This new equipment aims to improve treatment effectiveness and minimize the side effects commonly associated with radiotherapy.

Roselyn Mungai, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) responsible for Health Services, revealed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), through the Ministry of Health, donated the state-of-the-art machine.

She emphasized that this Linear Accelerator (LINAC) radiotherapy device would significantly upgrade oncology services for patients within Nakuru and neighboring counties.

Unlike the older cobalt machines, the LINAC uses high-energy X-rays generated by linear accelerators to target cancer cells more rapidly and precisely.

According to Mungai, this technology will reduce the length of radiotherapy sessions by approximately half, allowing patients to complete treatments faster and with fewer side effects.

Governor Susan Kihika’s administration is working closely with the National Government to ensure continued support for the County’s Cancer Centre.

Mungai highlighted ongoing efforts to staff the facility adequately, ensuring smooth operation of the LINAC machines and improved service delivery.

The advanced technology is designed to target only cancerous cells, sparing healthy tissue.

This precision contrasts with older machines that often damaged normal cells, causing longer recovery times, nausea, and unnecessary weight loss.

Currently, the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital’s Cancer Centre treats around 60 patients monthly.

With the new machine, radiotherapy sessions will be significantly shorter, and the device offers enhanced precision by directing radiation specifically at tumors.

Mungai explained that the LINAC delivers high radiation doses directly to the tumor while protecting surrounding healthy tissues.

Treatment times will drop dramatically—from nearly 40 minutes with the older equipment to about three minutes per session, reducing patient anxiety and allowing the centre to handle more patients.

This machine incorporates advanced technologies like VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) and IGRT (Image Guided Radiotherapy), which require imaging before any radiation is administered. This helps minimize errors and improves treatment accuracy.

The introduction of this LINAC machine is expected to improve patient outcomes by protecting vital organs and reducing side effects commonly experienced during radiotherapy.

Mungai expressed confidence that it would elevate the quality and accessibility of cancer care in Nakuru and the broader region, easing patients’ suffering during treatment.

Previously, most oncology centers, both public and private, relied on Cobalt-60 radiotherapy machines, which emit gamma rays to kill cancer cells.

However, these machines’ radiation output decreases as the cobalt source decays, necessitating longer treatment times to deliver the full dose. This contributed to long waiting times in cancer clinics.

Hospitals using cobalt machines must replace their radioactive source every five years.

In contrast, the LINAC machine generates X-rays electrically, providing higher energy beams suitable for treating deeply seated tumors more effectively.

It can also produce electron beams that allow treatment of superficial tumors while sparing critical organs such as the liver, lungs, and kidneys.

The CECM further explained that LINAC machines reduce harmful side effects and can treat various cancers, including skin tumors, melanoma, and lymphoma affecting limbs, with greater precision.

A Ministry of Health survey indicates cancer is Kenya’s third leading cause of death, following infectious and cardiovascular diseases. It accounts for about 8% of all deaths, with roughly 42,000 new cases and 27,000 fatalities annually.

Many patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment is less effective, leading to preventable deaths.

The introduction of the new LINAC machine is a crucial step towards improving early diagnosis and treatment, ultimately saving more lives in Nakuru County and beyond.