KESHO

Renal Cell Carcinoma: Evidence-Based Integration of Surgery and Systemic Therapy
2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 (Africa/Nairobi)
Evidence-Based Integration of Surgery and Systemic Therapy
Date: 19th March 2026Time: 7 PM – 8:30 PM EAT
MODERATORDr. Amina K. HabibMedical Oncologist, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
Dr. Carnjini YogeswaranConsultant Urological Surgeon | Kenyatta National HospitalTopic: Surgical Management of Locally Advanced and Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Dr. Douglas NyandikaPhysician and Medical Oncologist | The Nairobi HospitalTopic: Adjuvant and Metastatic Systemic Therapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Highlights
This session examined the evolving management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), focusing on how surgical and systemic approaches are increasingly integrated across the disease continuum.
A central theme was the importance of risk-adapted, multidisciplinary care, particularly in settings where many patients are still present with advanced diseases. While improved imaging has increased incidental detection globally, late-stage presentation remains common in Kenya, shaping both prognosis and treatment strategy.
From a surgical perspective, nephron-sparing surgery remains standard for localized diseases, while radical nephrectomy and complex resections play a critical role in locally advanced cases. In oligometastatic disease, cytoreductive nephrectomy and metastasis-directed therapy may offer benefit in carefully selected patients, particularly when integrated with systemic treatment strategies.
Systemic therapy has expanded significantly, with immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies now forming the backbone of treatment in advanced disease. Evidence from key trials demonstrates improved survival outcomes with combination regimens, reinforcing a shift towards early and strategic use of systemic therapy, particularly in metastatic and high-risk settings.
In the adjuvant setting, therapies such as pembrolizumab have shown disease-free and overall survival benefit in selected high-risk patients, highlighting the importance of post-surgical risk stratification and follow-up.
However, translating these advances into routine practice remains constrained by access, cost and infrastructure. The discussion underscored the need for context-specific treatment pathways, supported by multidisciplinary decision-making and strengthened health systems.
Across the session, a consistent message emerged: optimal RCC outcomes depend on deliberate integration—of surgery, systemic therapy and patient-centered decision-making.
Key Takeaways

RCC management requires integration of surgical and systemic therapies.
Late-stage presentation remains a key challenge in many settings.
Nephron-sparing and radical surgery remain central to localized and advanced disease.
Immunotherapy and targeted agents are transforming metastatic RCC outcomes.
Adjuvant therapy is increasingly relevant in high-risk post-surgical patients.
Access, cost and infrastructure continue to shape real-world implementation.

Optimizing Care in Colorectal Cancer
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:30
Date: 26th March 2026
Time: 7 PM – 8:30 PM EAT
Moderator

Dr. Andrew Odhiambo Medical Oncologist, The Nairobi Hospital; Thematic Head & Program Director, Medical Oncology, UON

Speakers
Dr. Alex Muturi Colorectal Surgeon & Surgical Gastroenterologist, Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital Locally Advanced Colon Cancer: Timing of Surgery Relative to Systemic Treatment
Dr. Caroline Tonio Medical Oncologist, Clinical Research Fellow (Clinical Trials), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, UK & KUTRRH, Kenya “Too Young for Colorectal Cancer?” Understanding the rise of EOCRC and its clinical impact.

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Treatment in Esophageal Cancer
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30
THE ROLE OF MULTIMODAL Treatment in Esophageal Cancer
Date: 9th April 2026 Time: 7 PM – 8:30 PM EAT
MODERATOR
Dr. Omar Abdihamid Clinical Oncologist, Garissa Regional Cancer Center | Vice President (EA), African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer
SPEAKERS
Dr. Juma Odoro Cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, JOOTRH Kisumu and Head of Unit Surgical Management of Esophageal Cancer
Dr. Rogers Mongare Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) The Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Esophageal Cancer
Dr. Kevin Makori Consultant Clinical & Radiation Oncologist, Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital | Clinical Trials Investigator, Victoria Cancer Care & Research Center, Nyamira Management of Metastatic Esophageal Cancer: Advances in Targeted and Combination Therapies

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Bridging Surgery and Oncology in Head & Neck Cancer
2026-04-16 19:00 - 20:30
Moderator: Dr. Ahmed Komen
Speakers: Dr. Anthony Kenyanya, Dr. Anthony Ndiritu
Date: 16 April 2026

This session explored the management of head and neck cancer with particular attention to how surgical decisions and oncology pathways must align from the outset. Through oral cavity cancer as a key focus, the session examined resectability, margins, nodal management, reconstruction, adjuvant therapy and functional outcomes.
A central theme was that treatment planning must go beyond tumour removal. Dr. Anthony Kenyanya highlighted the importance of staging, imaging, pathology, dental and nutritional assessment, surgical access, margin planning and neck node evaluation. In oral cavity cancers, surgical success depends not only on clear oncologic resection, but also on the ability to reconstruct defects and preserve speech, swallowing, appearance and quality of life.
The discussion also emphasised the challenge of late presentation and complex anatomy. Selective neck dissection, sentinel node considerations, access procedures such as mandibulotomy, and the reconstructive ladder were framed as tools for balancing disease control with morbidity. The role of the pathologist and margin assessment was highlighted as central to determining risk and guiding further treatment.
Dr. Anthony Ndiritu built on this by outlining how radiotherapy and chemoradiation fit into early, locally advanced, post-operative, recurrent and metastatic diseases. Early-stage disease may often be treated with a single modality, while locally advanced disease requires careful integration of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Positive margins and extranodal extension were discussed as major indications for post-operative chemoradiation, with timely initiation of treatment after surgery being important. The session also addressed treatment technique, patient fitness, nutrition, supportive care and the need to tailor recommendations to the services and expertise available.
Across the session, a consistent message emerged: head and neck cancer care is as much about function, coordination and follow-through as it is about disease control.
Key Takeaways

Head and neck cancer decisions must integrate tumour stage, resectability, patient fitness and functional outcomes.
Margin planning, pathology reporting and neck node assessment directly shape adjuvant treatment decisions.
Surgery requires strong reconstruction and rehabilitation planning to preserve speech, swallowing and appearance.
Locally advanced disease often needs combined-modality treatment through an MDT approach.
Positive margins and extranodal extension are key triggers for post-operative chemoradiation.
Supportive care, nutrition and patient navigation are essential to treatment completion.

Multidisciplinary Management of Testicular Cancer
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:30
Moderator: Dr. Muigai Mararo
Speakers: Dr. Dedan Opondo, Dr. Joseph Abuodha, Dr. George Ogweno
Date: 30 April 2026

This session marked Testicular Cancer Awareness Month with a multidisciplinary discussion on diagnosis, primary management, advanced disease, relapse and fertility preservation.
A central theme was that testicular cancer is highly curable when investigated and managed promptly, but cure depends on disciplined staging and risk stratification. Dr. Dedan Opondo outlined the importance of early clinical recognition, scrotal ultrasound, serum tumour markers, cross-sectional imaging and radical inguinal orchiectomy. The session reinforced that suspected testicular cancer should not be delayed, particularly because some germ cell tumours can progress rapidly.
Staging was presented as a practical foundation for management. Tumour markers such as AFP, beta-HCG and LDH, together with nodal imaging and histology, help distinguish seminomatous from non-seminomatous disease and guide decisions on surveillance, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The discussion also highlighted the technical and fertility-related implications of retroperitoneal surgery in young men.
Dr. Joseph Abuodha reviewed advanced and relapsed disease, emphasising that treatment remains strongly anchored in surgery, cisplatin-based chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surveillance rather than newer targeted or immunotherapy approaches. Across stages, the emphasis was on matching intensity to risk—avoiding both overtreatment and undertreatment—while recognising that even metastatic disease can remain curable with the right treatment strategy.
Dr. George Ogweno brought fertility preservation into the core of cancer care. He underscored the need for early oncofertility counselling, sperm banking where possible before treatment, and stronger collaboration between oncology, urology, fertility specialists, laboratories and counsellors. The discussion also reflected Kenya’s service realities, including limited fertility centres and the need for clearer pathways, consent and long-term storage planning.
Across the session, a consistent message emerged: testicular cancer care must protect both survival and survivorship.
Key Takeaways

Early recognition, tumour markers, imaging and radical inguinal orchiectomy are central to initial management.
Risk stratification using histology, TNM stage and post-operative markers guides treatment intensity.
Seminoma and non-seminoma pathways differ and should not be managed interchangeably.
Cisplatin-based chemotherapy remains central in advanced and relapsed disease.
Surveillance is appropriate only when reliable follow-up is possible.
Fertility counselling and sperm preservation should be discussed as early as possible.

From Data to Discovery: Leveraging Registries and Clinical Insights to Advance Research
2026-05-07 19:00 - 20:30
Moderator: Rebecca Mwakichako
Date: 7th May 2026
Speakers: Dr. Thomas Chatzikonstantinou, Ms. Anne Korir
This session examined how routine clinical data can be transformed into meaningful research evidence, with a focus on real-world data, clinical registries and everyday documentation as a foundation for local oncology research.
A central theme was the value of real-world evidence as a complement to randomized controlled trials. Dr. Thomas Chatzikonstantinou outlined how registries and clinical databases can help answer questions on treatment patterns, long-term outcomes, low-prevalence biomarkers, health economics and implementation across diverse settings. He emphasized that good research begins with realistic questions, clear endpoints and attention to data quality.
Ms. Anne Korir grounded the discussion in the Kenyan cancer registry experience, highlighting how paper files, unstructured notes, missing staging information, weak follow-up documentation and inconsistent residence or risk-factor data can limit the research value of clinical records. She underscored the need for standardization, digitization, regular data cleaning and ethical governance.
Across the session, a consistent message emerged: every clinical encounter can contribute to discovery when documentation is structured, complete and designed with future learning in mind.
Key Takeaways

Real-world data complements clinical trials by showing how care is delivered in routine practice.
Routine clinical notes can generate locally relevant oncology research questions.
Standardized documentation is essential for usable research and registry data.
Cancer registries remain critical for surveillance, policy and outcome tracking.
Collaboration between clinicians, registries and research institutions can strengthen local evidence generation.

Melanoma Care in Practice: Integrating Dermatology, Surgery & Oncology
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30
Moderator: Dr Stephen Chege
Date: 14th May 2026
SPEAKERS: Dr. Hannah Wanyika, Dr. Esther Gathura, Dr. Angela McLigeyo
This session examined melanoma care across the clinical pathway, from recognition of suspicious skin lesions to biopsy, excision, reconstruction, staging and systemic treatment.
A central theme was the importance of early suspicion and timely tissue diagnosis. Dr. Hannah Wanyika highlighted practical indications for biopsy, including new or changing pigmented lesions, non-healing ulcers, evolving moles and lesions that differ from surrounding skin. The discussion reinforced the use of the ABCDE approach and the “ugly duckling” sign, while emphasizing that changing lesions on the palms, soles, nails and scalp should not be dismissed.
Dr. Esther Gathura explored the surgical and reconstructive dimensions of melanoma care, particularly the realities of acral melanoma, which is common in African populations and often presents late. She emphasized the role of mapping biopsies, Breslow thickness, ulceration, nodal assessment and multidisciplinary planning in balancing oncologic safety with function, especially for weight-bearing areas of the foot.
Dr. Angela McLigeyo outlined the major advances in systemic therapy for advanced melanoma, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy and emerging treatment strategies. While immunotherapy has transformed outcomes globally, the session also acknowledged access, affordability and the urgent need for local data to guide treatment decisions in Kenya and the region.
Across the session, a consistent message emerged: optimal melanoma care depends on early recognition, accurate biopsy, careful staging, function-preserving surgery and realistic access to effective systemic therapy.
Key Takeaways

Changing pigmented lesions, non-healing ulcers and suspicious nail or acral lesions require timely biopsy.
The ABCDE rule and “ugly duckling” sign remain useful tools in clinical assessment.
Acral melanoma presents distinct diagnostic and surgical challenges in African settings.
Surgical management must balance clear margins, staging and functional reconstruction.
Immunotherapy and targeted treatment have changed advanced melanoma care, but access and local evidence remain key challenges.

Bladder Cancer Care
2026-05-21 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKERS: Dr. Patrick Mbuthia, Dr. Helena Musau, Dr Mohammed Ezzi
Date: 21st May 2026
Moderator: Dr. Sitna Mwanzi
This session examined bladder cancer through a multidisciplinary lens, bringing together surgical, radiotherapeutic and systemic treatment perspectives across the continuum of care.
A central theme was the need for accurate staging and risk-adapted management. Dr. Patrick Mbuthia discussed the role of transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) in diagnosis, staging and treatment, particularly for non-muscle invasive disease. The importance of complete resection, adequate detrusor muscle in the specimen, careful imaging and attention to complications was emphasized as central to subsequent treatment decisions.
Dr. Helena Musau highlighted the evolving role of radiotherapy in bladder preservation, especially through tri-modality therapy combining maximal TURBT, concurrent chemoradiation and structured response assessment. The discussion also addressed patient selection, surveillance, salvage options, palliative radiotherapy for symptoms, and the value of newer radiotherapy techniques in reducing toxicity while preserving quality of life.
Dr. Mohammed Ezzi reviewed systemic treatment across non-muscle invasive, muscle invasive and metastatic bladder cancer. He outlined the role of intravesical therapy, BCG, cisplatin eligibility, immunotherapy, maintenance strategies and emerging options such as antibody-drug conjugates and targeted agents, while noting that cost and availability continue to shape real-world treatment in Kenya.
Across the session, a consistent message emerged: improving bladder cancer outcomes requires timely diagnosis, high-quality TURBT, multidisciplinary decision-making and treatment pathways that reflect both evidence and local access reality.
Key Takeaways

Bladder cancer management depends on accurate staging and distinction between non-muscle invasive and muscle invasive disease.
High-quality TURBT with adequate muscle sampling is central to diagnosis and treatment planning.
Trimodality therapy offers bladder preservation for carefully selected patients.
Systemic therapy is rapidly evolving with immunotherapy, maintenance approaches and antibody-drug conjugates.
Local data are needed to address African patterns of disease, including schistosomiasis-associated squamous cell carcinoma.

The Brain Tumour Journey
2026-05-28 19:00 - 20:30
Speakers: Dr. Michael Magoha; Dr. Sarah Muma; Dr. Parmenas Minda Okemwa
Moderator: Mr. David L. Oluoch-Olunya
The Brain Tumour Journey brought together neurosurgery, paediatric haemato-oncology and neuropathology perspectives to examine how multidisciplinary collaboration can improve care for patients with brain tumours. The session positioned brain tumour management as a continuum, from first symptoms and referral to surgery, pathology, oncology treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up and family support.
Dr. Michael Magoha opened the session by reframing the brain tumour journey around the patient experience. He noted that brain tumours often carry fear and uncertainty, yet they are not a single diagnosis or a uniform prognosis. With more than 150 tumour types and subtypes, the patient’s pathway can vary widely. His presentation highlighted the role of patient navigation in helping individuals move through imaging, surgery, pathology, endocrine review, oncology care and long-term follow-up without being lost in fragmented systems.
Dr. Sarah Muma focused on the multidisciplinary management of childhood brain tumours in Kenya. She highlighted that brain and CNS tumours appear under-recognised in local and African childhood cancer data, suggesting delays in diagnosis and referral. Children may present with persistent headaches, vomiting, visual changes, seizures, gait or coordination problems, abnormal head growth, behavioral changes or endocrine-related symptoms. The discussion emphasized the need for a higher index of suspicion, especially when symptoms are progressive, recurrent or not responding as expected.
The session also examined Kenyan system-level challenges, including limited access to timely imaging, prolonged pathways between surgery and radiotherapy, scarcity of formal paediatric neuro-oncology programs and treatment abandonment. Dr. Muma described the value of neuro-oncology multidisciplinary clinics, where patients and families can receive coordinated input from neurosurgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, rehabilitation, counselling and navigation teams within a more structured care pathway.
Dr. Parmenas Minda Okemwa closed the presentations by discussing the principles and diagnostic challenges of brain tumour pathology. He emphasized that pathology remains the gold standard for diagnosis, but modern brain tumour care increasingly depends on integrated reporting that combines clinical context, radiology, histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular testing. His presentation underscored the need for adequate tissue sampling, stronger neuropathology capacity, expanded diagnostic panels, molecular testing access and regular multidisciplinary tumour board discussions.
Across the session, the message was clear: improving brain tumour outcomes requires coordinated systems, not isolated excellence. Timely diagnosis, accurate pathology, surgical expertise, oncology planning, patient navigation, rehabilitation and survivorship support must work together if patients are to receive care that is clinically sound, humane and sustainable.
Key Takeaways

Brain tumour care is a journey, not a single event. Patients often require coordinated input across imaging, surgery, pathology, oncology treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up.
Patient navigation can reduce fragmentation. Navigators help patients and families move through complex health systems and reduce the risk of missed appointments, delayed reviews or incomplete follow-up.
Children may present with subtle or progressive symptoms. Persistent headaches, seizures, visual changes, gait problems, behavioural changes or endocrine symptoms should prompt a high index of suspicion.
Multidisciplinary clinics can shorten delays. Same-day or coordinated review by several specialists can improve treatment planning and reduce the burden on families.
Accurate diagnosis depends on integrated pathology. Histology remains central, but immunohistochemistry and molecular testing increasingly guide classification, prognosis and treatment options.
Kenya’s neuro-oncology systems are advancing but need strengthening. Referral pathways, registries, specialist training, diagnostic capacity, molecular testing access and survivorship systems remain key priorities.

Strengthening Haemato-Oncology Care
2026-06-11 19:00 - 20:30
Date: 11th June 2026 Time: 7 PM – 8:30 PM EAT
CPD Accredited
Moderator Prof. John Weru Pain and palliative medicine specialist, palliative care section head. Chief Medical officer and Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs at AUHN.
Dr. Eve Namisango Executive Director, The African Palliative Care Association Palliative Care Research in Africa for Haemato-Oncology
Prof. Sayed Karar Professor, Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University; Acting Chief Medical Information Officer Introduction to Palliative Care
