RFH Healthcare flagship hospital in Ruai.
Ruai-based RFH Healthcare has become the first hospital in the region to offer a special cancer treatment called Lutetium therapy.
This
therapy uses a radioactive substance, Lutetium-177, to target and kill cancer
cells. It works best for people with neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer that has spread to
other parts of the body. Neuroendocrine tumours can grow in
places like the stomach, intestines, or lungs and may spread to other parts of
the body.
Unlike
regular treatments like chemotherapy, which can affect the whole body, Lutetium
therapy is more precise. It is administered through a vein (like a
drip). It travels
through the blood directly to the cancer cells and
damages them from the inside, causing fewer side effects.
“Our
commitment is to ensure that patients across Africa can access world-class
treatment without having to leave the continent,” said Dr Maxwel Okoth,
Managing Director of RFH Healthcare. “With Lutetium therapy now available
locally, we are not only saving lives, but also rewriting the future of cancer
care in Africa.”
Dr Maxwel Okoth, Managing Director of RFH
Healthcare.
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 specialised
services across Nairobi, Kiambu, and Machakos counties.
The PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners were installed late last year.
Andre Lourens, a Molecular Imaging Application specialist from GE
Healthcare Africa, who oversaw the installation, said: “The PET-CT and SPECT-CT scanners are
not only pivotal in cancer diagnosis and treatment but also play crucial roles
in cardiac and brain imaging. Each machine can efficiently serve 10-15 patients
daily, ensuring more patients receive timely and accurate diagnostics.”
Maxwell Songa, Nuclear Medical Physicist at RFH, emphasised the
significant impact the 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, nuclear medicine technologist at RFH, demonstrated how the PET-CT scanner operates,
explaining the streamlined process.
“A scan takes approximately 25-27 minutes, making it both
efficient and comfortable for patients. This technology ensures that every
image captured provides vital insights into the patient’s condition.”