Oesophageal cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Kenya, way ahead of cervical and breast varieties, which for years ranked among the country's top killers, especially among women, a new global survey has shown.
The latest analysis from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Cancer Collaborators reveals that, in 2023, oesophageal cancer caused the highest number of cancer deaths in Kenya, accounting for 14.8 percent of all cancer deaths.
This was higher than the rates for breast cancer (13.3 percent), cervical cancer (10.5 percent), stomach cancer (9.3 percent), and prostate cancer (7.1 percent).
According to the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCIK), the country recorded an estimated 4,300 new cases of oesophageal cancer and around 4,000 deaths, making it one of the deadliest cancers, due to late-stage detection and its aggressive progression.
Oesophageal cancer starts in the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. There are two main types: one is linked to smoking, alcohol, and drinking very hot beverages, while the other is tied to acid reflux, obesity, and smoking.
As symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, chest pain and weight loss often appear late, the disease is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it one of the deadliest cancers.
Certain communities, particularly those with traditions of consuming hot beverages and tobacco, are disproportionately affected.
However, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Kenyan women, accounting for around 23.3 percent of all female cancers. Around 6,799 women are diagnosed annually, with approximately 3,107 deaths.
Among men, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed, accounting for around 14.4 percent of male cancer cases.
With a population of around 54 million, Kenya records over 47,000 new cancer cases and more than 32,000 cancer-related deaths each year.
Around 86,000 people are living with cancer after five years, highlighting the disease's long-term impact on families and the healthcare system.
Cancer is now the second leading cause of death from non-communicable diseases in Kenya.
Earlier projections from the 2020 GLOBOCAN report estimated 42,116 new cases and 27,092 cancer-related deaths each year, but current trends have already surpassed these figures.
Cancer patterns vary widely across Africa, but the challenges of late diagnosis and weak healthcare infrastructure remain consistent. In Algeria, the most common cancers are lung-related, specifically tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancers, with a mortality rate of 8.1 percent.
Prostate cancer is the leading type in Angola at 17.8 percent, while in Benin it stands at 15.5 percent. In Botswana, cervical cancer is the most prevalent at 7.9 percent, while in Burundi, the rate is alarmingly high at 16.4 percent.
Globally, 10.4 million cancer-related deaths and 18.5 million new cases were recorded in 2023, marking a sharp rise compared to previous decades.
Without urgent action, the GBD projects that the number of new cancer cases could rise by 61 percent over the next 25 years, reaching 30.5 million by 2050. The annual global cancer death toll is forecast to increase by nearly 75 percent to 18.6 million, driven largely by population growth and an ageing population.
Low- and middle-income countries are expected to bear the greatest burden in both absolute and proportional terms, as they still lag in terms of prevention, screening, and treatment infrastructure.
“The rise of cancer in LMICs is an impending disaster,” said Dr Meghnath Dhimal from the Nepal Health Research Council.
“There are cost-effective interventions for cancer in countries at all stages of development. These cancer burden estimates can help broaden the discussion around the importance of cancer and other non-communicable diseases in the global health agenda. To control the growth of non-communicable diseases, including cancer, in LMICs, an interdisciplinary approach for evidence generation and multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination for implementation are urgently needed."
The GBD also found that approximately 42 per cent of cancer deaths in 2023—around 4.3 million—are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, unprotected sex, obesity, high blood sugar, and air pollution.
Tobacco use alone accounts for around 21 percent of global cancer deaths. In low-income settings, unsafe sex is a more significant factor, reflecting its association with infections such as HPV and HIV.
“Cancer remains an important contributor to disease burden globally,” said Dr Lisa Force of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
“Our study highlights how it is anticipated to grow substantially over the coming decades, with disproportionate growth in countries with limited resources.”
She added that governments must prioritize diagnostics, treatment capacity, palliative care, and stronger health systems to respond effectively.
