Cancer specialists and other healthcare professionals from Tanzania and abroad have gathered in Dar es Salaam for the fourth International Cancer Conference to discuss advances in treatment, research and strategies to improve cancer outcomes.
The conference brings together specialists to share findings from ongoing research and examine developments in cancer diagnosis and treatment, with early detection emerging as a key area in reducing deaths from the disease.
Speaking during the conference, President of the Tanzania Society of Clinical Oncology, Jerry Ndumbaro, said the meeting provides an opportunity for specialists to discuss developments in cancer treatment and share findings from research being conducted in different areas.
Mr Ndumbaro also commended the government for investing in modern medical equipment and cancer services, saying the improvements could contribute to a decline in cancer deaths and the number of patients requiring advanced treatment over the next decade.
He said increased access to screening services was helping more patients detect cancer at an earlier stage, improving their chances of receiving timely treatment.
He cited cervical cancer screening as one area where access had expanded, saying screening services were now available at health facilities across the country, including lower-level facilities and major hospitals.
According to Mr Ndumbaro, the expansion of screening has contributed to a shift in the stage at which some patients are diagnosed.
“In cervical cancer, the government has continued to make significant investments. There are facilities offering screening for early signs of cervical cancer at almost all levels of health facilities, giving people an opportunity to access screening services free of charge,” he said.
He said early detection was important because many patients previously arrived at health facilities when the disease had already reached stages three or four, when treatment becomes more difficult.
“Over the past few years, since these services were introduced and people given an opportunity to undergo screening, many patients have been diagnosed at an early stage compared with the past, when most arrived at stages three and four,” he said.
Prevention has also remained part of the government's cancer-control strategy, with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine being provided to girls aged between nine and 14 to help prevent cervical cancer.
Mr Ndumbaro said Ministry of Health figures indicate that between 84 and 90 per cent of eligible girls have received the vaccine.
However, specialists at the conference said late presentation of cancer cases remained a major challenge, limiting treatment options and affecting outcomes for patients.
Cancer specialist Emmanuel Mduma said the conference was important because it brought together experts to exchange knowledge and strengthen cancer research and treatment.
He said delayed presentation remained one of the major challenges facing cancer care, as patients who arrive at hospitals when the disease is advanced often require more complex treatment.
“The biggest challenge we still have is patients arriving at hospitals late. This creates major difficulties compared with when they would come at an early stage, when treatment would be more effective,” Dr Mduma said.
The conference is also examining advances in minimally invasive cancer treatment, including procedures performed through small openings rather than conventional surgery.
Cancer specialist Ratifa Abdallah said discussions on modern radiology and minimally invasive procedures were among the areas that could contribute to improving cancer care.
She said procedures involving small openings could reduce blood loss and make treatment less invasive for patients compared with conventional surgery.
The specialists said continued investment in early diagnosis, modern equipment, research and specialised skills would be important as Tanzania seeks to improve cancer treatment and reduce the burden of the disease.
The meeting also provides an opportunity for local specialists to exchange experience with international experts and assess how emerging technologies and research findings can be applied in Tanzania's health system.