The silent cancer Kenyan women can’t afford to ignore

Cervical cancer does not announce itself loudly. In its earliest stages, it is often silent, no pain, no bleeding, no obvious warning signs. Many women live with the disease for months, sometimes years, unaware that cancer is quietly advancing in their bodies.

By the time symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, unusual discharge, persistent back pain, or changes in bowel habits appear, the disease is often already at an advanced and far more dangerous stage.

This silence is one of cervical cancer’s greatest risks, and one of Kenya’s biggest public health challenges.

Today, cervical cancer claims approximately 10 Kenyan women’s lives every single day. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the country and the second most common cancer after breast cancer.

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) of 2022, without decisive intervention, projections show daily deaths could more than double to 22 by 2040. These are not abstract numbers. They represent mothers, daughters, professionals, caregivers, and breadwinners lost to a disease that is largely preventable and treatable when detected early.

From a health risk perspective, the biggest driver of poor outcomes is late diagnosis. In Kenya, about two-thirds of cervical cancer cases are detected only when the disease is already advanced. At this stage, treatment options are limited, more expensive, and far less effective.

Survival statistics tell a sobering story –the probability of surviving one year after diagnosis is about 57 percent, dropping to 45 percent after two years. Only around one-third of patients receive the full treatment they need; many others receive only palliative or supportive care.

This late diagnosis is closely linked to low screening rates. The KDHS notes that only 16.8 per cent of Kenyan women have ever been screened for cervical cancer. Between 2011 and 2020, screening coverage for HIV-negative women fluctuated widely, sometimes falling below one per cent. For HIV-positive women—who face a higher risk due to compromised immunity—coverage remained even lower. As of 2018, only a quarter of health facilities in the country offered screening services at all.

Why are so many women missing this potentially life-saving intervention? The barriers are complex and deeply human. Fear of pain during the procedure, anxiety about receiving a positive result, discomfort with male healthcare providers, previous traumatic experiences with pelvic exams, and lack of time—especially for working women and caregivers—all play a role.

Cost is another major deterrent. A Pap smear can cost anywhere from Sh1,000 in a public facility to Sh10,000 in private hospitals. For families surviving on less than Sh300 a day, screening becomes a luxury rather than a preventive necessity.

This is where a risk-based approach to health becomes critical. At Minet, we view cervical cancer not only as a medical issue but as a systemic risk—one that affects families, workplaces, insurers, and the wider economy. Health risks left unmanaged eventually become financial, social, and productivity risks. When women fall ill or die prematurely, households lose income, children lose caregivers, and employers lose experienced talent.

HPV vaccination, introduced in 2019, has shown encouraging progress: first-dose coverage rose from 24 per cent in 2022 to over 60 per cent by the end of 2024, with second-dose coverage also improving. The shift to a single-dose that started in October 2025 is a positive move that could further boost uptake.

Yet, Kenya still falls short of the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 elimination targets: vaccinating 90 per cent of girls by age 15, screening 70 per cent of women at ages 35 and 45, and ensuring 90 per cent of women with cervical disease receive appropriate treatment. Bridging this gap requires more than policy. It requires coordinated risk awareness, financing solutions, workplace support, and community-level engagement.

Employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and policymakers all have a role to play. Workplace health programmes can normalise screening and vaccination, insurance products can reduce out-of-pocket costs, and data-driven risk assessments can help target interventions where they are needed most. Awareness must move beyond campaigns to practical access featuring affordable screening, respectful care, trained personnel, and reliable follow-up treatment.

January, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, is not just a moment for reflection, but a call to action. Cervical cancer may be silent in its early stages, but our response must not be. Early screening, vaccination, and informed risk management can save thousands of lives.

The writer is the Head of Corporate Wellness, at Minet Kenya