- The hospital has said this will help ensure those who meet the eligibility criteria are booked accordingly.
- This comes even as the hospital officially commenced treatment with the latest technology in the treatment of cancer.
Image: KUTRRH
Oncologists across the country have been advised to liaise with the medical team at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital to discuss the eligibility of their patients for Cyberknife treatment.
The hospital has said this will help ensure those who meet the eligibility criteria are booked accordingly.
This comes even as the hospital officially commenced treatment with the latest technology in the treatment of cancer.
KUTRRH has said that the specific conditions and patients eligible for Cyberknife treatment may vary from case to case.
Treatment decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like the type and location of the tumour.
The patient's overall health and the potential benefits of Cyberknife treatment are also key determinants.
The first patient to be treated using the technology on Wednesday had a delicate tumour that could not be removed via surgery due to the risk involved.
“Cyberknife was the treatment of choice thanks to its precision. The treatment took 22 minutes and is the first of the five treatment sessions for the next five days and that will mark the end of his treatment,” the hospital said in a statement.
CyberKnife can be used to treat tumours that are considered inoperable due to their location or the patient's health.
This provides new treatment options for patients who may not have had other viable choices.
The cyberknife which arrived in the country in October last year was officially commissioned by President William Ruto in April.
However, the commencement of CyberKnife treatment services comes after a tedious commissioning process.
According to the hospital, the process which took five months after the launch by the President included a dry run, and the collection of very delicate data to ensure that the machine processes were accurate and ready to deliver precise and successful treatment to our patients.
“The process of dry run, data collection, and calibrating the highly complex equipment which uses radiation beams took a bit of time but it was finally done with precision to enable treatment to start safely,” KUTRRH board chairperson Olive Mugenda said.
“To start with, 10 patients will be treated per day and the number will be escalated.”
Data from the hospital shows 100 patients are already confirmed with more than 700 being in the process of finalising their referrals and NHIF approval.
Several patients are also from the East and Central African countries, pointing to Kenya being a destination for medical tourism in the field of cancer treatment.
“Cyberknife in Kenya is the second in Africa after Egypt so we expect patients not only from Kenya but from other African countries,” Mugenda said.
CyberKnife treatment is an important advancement in the field of radiation therapy, offering precise and effective treatment options for a wide range of medical conditions, especially cancer while minimizing side effects and improving the overall patient experience.
The machine uses a combination of advanced imaging and robotics to deliver highly precise and targeted radiation therapy.
The cost of treatment is fully covered by NHIF making treatment affordable to Kenyans and contributing to UHC.
It can track the movement of tumours in real time, adjusting the radiation beams accordingly.
This precision is crucial in treating tumours located near critical structures or in delicate areas of the body.
Unlike traditional surgery, CyberKnife is a non-invasive treatment option. It does not require incisions or anaesthesia which leads to quicker recovery times and fewer complications for patients.
Similarly, treatment is delivered in three to six outpatient sessions compared to traditional radiation therapy which requires 20 to 30 sessions to complete treatment.