Breast Cancer Patients Struggle for Diagnosis and Treatment in Gaza
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, medical personnel are carrying out screening activities at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
In Gaza's healthcare system, which has been severely damaged due to Israeli attacks and the blockade, breast cancer patients face immense difficulties in accessing diagnosis and treatment processes.
State of the Healthcare System
As a result of Israel's attacks on Gaza, the healthcare system in the region has been targeted, and more than half of the hospitals have been destroyed and rendered out of service.
Activities at the Nasser Medical Complex
Medical personnel working at the Nasser Medical Complex, located in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, are carrying out screening and awareness-raising activities for women on the occasion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Difficult Conditions and Symptoms
Medical imaging specialist Ragda al-Jabbour stated that people cannot prioritize their health under harsh living conditions, and some women staying in tents mistake changes in the breast area for pimples or insect bites, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
Shortage of Mammography Machines
Radiology department staff Ahmed Shahwan noted that there is only one mammography machine each at the Nasser and Al-Shifa hospitals for the population of approximately 2 million in the Gaza Strip.
It was reported that an attempt is being made to provide services under intense pressure with these devices, which have been awaiting maintenance and spare parts since October 2023.