RFH Hospital Makes History: Introduces Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment
Unlike regular treatments like chemotherapy, which can affect the whole body, Lutetium therapy is more precise. It is delivered via a vein (similar to an intravenous drip). travels through the blood straight to the cancer cells and harms them internally, resulting in reduced side effects.
“Ensuring that patients throughout Africa have access to top-tier treatments without needing to depart from the continent is our pledge,” stated Dr Maxwel Okoth, CEO of RFH Healthcare. “By offering Lutetium therapy regionally, we are not just extending life spans; we're also reshaping the landscape of oncological care in Africa.”
Until now, patients in Kenya needed to travel abroad to get this treatment.
RFH has some of the most advanced technology in the region, including machines like the PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners at its Cancer Treatment Centre within the flagship hospital in Ruai, near Nairobi.
It has 11 branches and provides speciali s Emergency services throughout Nairobi, Kiambu, and Machakos counties.
The PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners were put in place towards the end of last year.
Andre Lourens, who works as a Molecular Imaging Applications Specialist at GE Healthcare Africa, who oversaw the installation, said: The PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners are essential for both diagnosing and treating cancer, as well as for imaging of the heart and brain. These machines have the capacity to effectively handle between 10 to 15 patients each day, thereby guaranteeing that a larger number of individuals get prompt and precise diagnostic services. . ”
Maxwell Songa, a Nuclear Medical Physicist at RFH, highlighted the considerable influence of these machines would have.
“Patients who previously had to travel abroad for PET-CT or SPECT-CT scans can now access these services locally. The acquisition of this advanced technology will reduce waiting times to just one week, allowing us to perform diagnosis, staging, restaging, and monitoring with unparalleled precision,” Songa said.
He added that RFH stands as the first facility in Kenya and East Africa to provide targeted therapy for prostate cancer patients using the cutting-edge technology, offering an alternative to the traditional linear accelerator approach.
Isaac Munyao, n uclear m edicine t echnologist at RFH, demonstrated how the PET-CT scanner operates, explaining the streamlined process.
A scan typically lasts around 25-27 minutes, offering efficiency along with comfort for patients. This advanced technique guarantees that each image obtained delivers crucial information about the patient’s health.
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