Cancer patients in the country can breathe a sigh of relief now that Cyberknife, a new non-invasive cancer treatment machine, has arrived in the country.
The machine acquired by Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) will be used for personalised treatments of various types of cancer, including brain tumors, head and neck cancer, lung, breast, spinal, liver, pancreas, and prostate cancer.
Kenya is now the second country to own the machine after Egypt, and it will be installed and commissioned in six weeks.
“The delivery of the CyberKnife today at KUTRRH is a milestone in the provision of robotic radiosurgery treatment. It treats without affecting adjacent cells.” Prof Olive Mugenda, the hospital’s Board Chairperson said
“This valuable precision nuclear medicine for cancerous & non-cancerous tumors is a game changer for Kenya and the region.” She added.
The Cyberknife technology provides non-invasive cancer and non-cancerous tumor treatment. It is intended to use robotics in conjunction with image guidance technology to precisely deliver high-dose pulses to tumors and other abnormal tissues throughout the body.
Given the machine’s advanced technology, the installation process is expected to take about 60 days.
In view of this, Mugenda stated that the equipment will be commissioned on December 15th, when the first patient will be treated.
“There have been more inquiries about the service and urgent ones have had to seek the service elsewhere. To address this, we look forward to having a capacity for 20 patients per day,” Mugenda said.
The government set aside Sh300 million in April for the purchase of radiotherapy equipment.
The machine will be extremely useful in treating complicated and advanced cancer cases.
Non-invasive treatment for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors is provided by this technology.
Its innovative robotic design keeps radiation on target even when the tumor moves, and it can be used as an alternative to surgery or for patients with inoperable or surgically complex tumors.
The machine confirms the precise tumor position before adjusting the robot to precisely target the tumor.
A group of medical professionals will travel for application training to improve their ability to use the Cyberknife.
