Gaza Blockade Contributes to Breast Cancer Crisis, Hindering Treatment Access
The ongoing blockade on Gaza is severely impacting breast cancer patients, leading to a significant crisis in treatment access. Women diagnosed with breast cancer face critical shortages of medicine, medical equipment, and specialized diagnostic services, including functional mammography machines. According to Al Jazeera, Dr. Hala al-Buhaisi, a physician, notes an increase in women presenting with advanced stages of cancer, with Yafa Hospital recording a 40% or higher increase in such cases since the war began in October 2023. Over 4,000 women are reportedly awaiting travel outside Gaza for treatment, with approximately 5% of these patients dying due to delays. The lack of radiotherapy and oncology medications further exacerbates the situation, leading to slower recovery rates and increased psychological pressure on patients. 
