25/3/2022
A glimpse of KNH One-Stop Breast Clinic By Cynthia Cherono
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eceiving state-of-the-art care at one of Kenya’s best surgical treatment centers is reassuring for those facing the many uncertainties of various breast diseases. The One-Stop Breast Clinic is committed to helping women and men address all issues concerning the breast. Located within the Kenyatta National Hospital, the Breast Care and management surgical clinic (24) offers a full spectrum of services to improve breast health. The services include screening and diagnostics, breast cancer treatment for both benign and malignant breast disease, breast abscess/Mastitis Cancer, and other breast problems, all delivered with the expertise, compassion, and individualized service expected from East Africa’s largest National Teaching and referral hospital-KNH. KNH was the first in the region to be granted full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. The Hospital is also an accredited Breast Imaging Center of Excellence through the KNH Radiology department (Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Breast Imaging, Cardiothoracic Imaging). The clinic has a navigation cancer treatment team through collaboration with an NGO and the KNH multidisciplinary team. The breast clinic receives referred patients and KNH staff only and operates on an appointment basis where patients are given an appointment date for minor problems, and in the case of cancer patients, they are booked within a week or attended to immediately. Treatment and diagnosis The clinic comprises expert specialists at breast treatment; most of whom are well-trained nurses, physicians, registrars, and specialized doctors. The consultants and students from UON work collaboratively to identify the most effective treatment options for each breast-diagnosed condition for the
respective patients. Diagnosis and management This entail all aspects of breast and skin problems, benign breast lumps, breast pain, nipple discharge, family history, breast cancer treatment, oncoplastic surgery, immediate and delayed reconstruction, breast implant exchange, augmentation, reductions, and lipo modeling- for correction of breast deformities and or breast asymmetry for patients having undergone breast cancer surgery in the past. KNH radiology department works
together with the surgical clinic for Breast Imaging, incorporating mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and image-guided biopsy.
PHOTO | STOCK
What to Expect at the One-Stop Clinic: At the clinic, one is seen by the Breast Consultant and a nurse, where they ask if you have had any breast problems before and whether you have a family history of cancer. The specialist examines the breasts and under the armpits. They then explain the tests needed. These may include:
“ The Hospital is also an accredited Breast Imaging Center of Excellence through the KNH Radiology department (Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Breast Imaging, Cardiothoracic Imaging).”
ISSUE 6 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
Mammogram – uses low-energy X-rays to identify abnormalities in the breast. This is the most important breast screening tool as it identifies early signs of breast cancer, micro-calcifications, and small lesions. Regular mammograms are the most effective tests for detecting breast cancer early, sometimes up to 3
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