All set for symposium on esophageal cancer in Jinja

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James (not real name) started smoking at the age of 16. Until last year, smoking had become his decades-long addiction.

When his family noticed that he was losing weight, he would assure them that all was well whenever they would ask him about it.

But last December, he could hardly put anything down his throat — experiencing excruciating pain whenever he tried. Even swallowing a spoonful of juice was a struggle. Having had enough, James — aged 59 at the time — sought medical advice.

The experts at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala broke the unwanted news to his family: he had developed esophageal cancer.

This type of cancer — the fifth commonest cancer in Uganda — forms in the tissues lining the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.

It is more common in men and is ranked the third commonest cancer in men and sixth in women.

After his diagnosis last year, James became one of the 2,400 people who, on average, report at the UCI annually with esophageal cancer.

With this in mind, UCI has set out to ramp up efforts to reduce this statistic.

The institute says it has partnered with the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC) and Kyabirwa Surgical Centre Jinja, to hold a four-day Esophageal Cancer Symposium in Jinja city, which will begin this Tuesday (June 10).

Dr Nixon Niyonzima, the director of research at UCI, told a press conference in Kampala on Thursday that partnerships are needed in the treatment of cancer.

He said that overall, about 36,000 new cancer cases report at UCI every year.

Of the 20 percent that access care at the institute, 80 percent arrive when their cancer is in advanced stage (Stage 3 or 4) — pointed to ignorance and lack of access to treatment.

In Uganda, the survival rate of esophageal cancer patients is very low, with only 4.5 percent of sufferers living up to the fifth year with the disease.

Next week's symposium in Jinja will address the challenges around this type of cancer.

Technology is one of them. For instance, esophageal cancer patients need to do an endoscopy CT scan and other images, which are not accessible in most parts of Uganda.

The government plans to establish regional cancer treatment centres to relieve the existing facilities of the pressure of large numbers.

During the upcoming symposium, which will feature trainings and service provision, patients will receive endoscopy services at no cost.