On the 29th of June, 2022, the “Exploring Cancer Stigma” (ECaSSA) study team held its first implementers conference at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. The meeting brought together key health partners from the KCMC Cancer Centre, Psychiatry & Mental Health Department, the broader hospital, and local government with a goal of building a bridge between mental health and cancer care.
The full-day discussion started with presentations from the heads of the Cancer Centre and Psychiatry Service, describing the formation and impressive expansion of these services in the last 6 years since they were first formed.
The ECaSSA team’s principal investigators, Dr. Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters and Dr. Brandon Knettel, along with Study Coordinator Elizabeth Msoka-Bright, then shared preliminary findings from the ECaSSA study. To date, findings have demonstrated patient concerns about disclosing their cancer status to others, the public perception that cancer is related to death, and the overwhelming financial burden of cancer care which often leads to tension with family members.
The team has also observed critical delays in cancer treatment, including an average of 6 months from the time of onset of symptoms to first seeking care, and a further delay of 5 months on average from the time of seeking care to receiving a cancer diagnosis. These patient- and hospital-level delays have crucial implications for cancer outcomes and survival.
The presentation of preliminary findings sparked a conversation that would lead to practical steps towards reducing stigma and increasing mental health support for people affected by cancer.
Among the key attendees of the implementation meeting were Dr. Linda Samu, the District Medical Officer for Moshi Municipal District, Dr. Sarah Urassa, Director of Hospital Services at KCMC, Prof. Blandina Mmbaga, director of Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Dr. Furaha Serventi, head of the KCMC Cancer Centre, and Dr. Judith Boshe, Head of Psychiatry and Mental Health at KCMC.
“The meeting was a major success, and we particularly appreciated input from the attendees on next steps for research and practice,” says Dr. Brandon Knettel, the co- principal investigator of the ECaSSA study. “This feedback will be critical in designing the next phase of this research, where we hope to design new interventions to support people with cancer and their families.”
The ECaSSA team winding up preparations for the implementors meeting.
