Women suffering from breast cancer in the Gaza Strip are reportedly enduring catastrophic conditions as the local healthcare system struggles under the weight of ongoing conflict and severe blockades. Hiba Musbah, a 36-year-old mother of three, has undergone seven rounds of chemotherapy, yet her condition continues to deteriorate while she awaits permission to travel outside the enclave for critical medical care. The ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli regime have severely limited access to essential diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Musbah first noticed symptoms in early 2024 amidst mass displacement, but military operations and intense bombardment around Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis allegedly delayed her necessary surgery by two months. Subsequent chemotherapy treatments were reportedly postponed for seven months due to a severe lack of medicines. Today, she remains unable to obtain a computerized tomography (CT) scan to monitor her disease progression because public hospitals lack the equipment, and private alternatives are financially out of reach.

According to health officials in Gaza, early detection and diagnostic screening services have largely collapsed. Frequent breakdowns of mammography machines, a severe shortage of laboratory supplies, and the complete absence of radiotherapy have crippled cancer care. Furthermore, advanced surgical procedures have reportedly been halted due to a lack of specialized medical capabilities and resources, leaving hundreds of potential cancer cases undiagnosed.

Despite these harrowing conditions, local medical staff continue conducting breast cancer awareness campaigns and self-examination training sessions. However, systemic hurdles remain formidable. Musbah and numerous other patients state they have been waiting for years to secure exit permits for specialized treatment abroad, remaining trapped without a clear timeline for medical evacuation.

Source: www.aljazeera.com