Establishing a Cancer Registry and Baseline Data for Nyandarua County, Kenya: A Step towards Establishing a Central Cancer Registry

Cancer is a major global public health issue, causing a significant number of premature deaths worldwide. In 2020, the World Health Organization reported that more than 19 million individuals were diagnosed with cancer, and over 10 million lost their lives to the disease. Predictions indicate that cancer-related deaths will exceed 30 million by 2030, with around 75% occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Kenya. Various factors contribute to this concerning trend, including aging populations, a high prevalence of cancer risk factors, socioeconomic disparities resulting in limited healthcare access, and deficiencies in healthcare systems within LMICs. This study focused on Nyandarua County, Kenya, which lacks a dedicated cancer registry. Without comprehensive incidence data, the county faces challenges in developing targeted programs for cancer prevention, management, and control. The main objective of this investigation was to establish a cancer registry specific to Nyandarua County, capable of continuously gathering accurate cancer data, patient treatment follow-ups and disease outcomes. A demographic survey was conducted to determine the frequency of all-cause and specific cancers among patients who attended selected health facilities between 2013 and 2020. The presented data were collected from existing hospital records in three main hospitals in the county.