Lung cancer: Why some Kenyans visit herbalists, chemists

Kenyans have also become more receptive to palliative care services compared to previous years. [iStockphoto]

Some Kenyans, unaware of the early signs of lung cancer have been seeking help from herbalists when not buying drugs over the counter.

Such medications while temporarily relieving them of pain does more harm than good considering that less than 10 per cent of those diagnosed with lung cancer survive, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Gideon Ayodo, an officer at the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya (NCD Alliance) says “patients with warning signs suggestive of cancer or diagnosed with cancer resort to alternative medicine. While getting relief from pain, the condition worsens and cancer advances to a stage that cannot be managed easily.”