DaysofPal- Thousands of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip are facing a worsening battle for survival as the territory’s healthcare system continues to deteriorate under the strain of ongoing Israeli genocide, closure and resource shortages.
Medical professionals and patients describe a dire reality in which access to early diagnosis, regular treatment, and continuous care has become increasingly limited.
Severe shortages of diagnostic equipment, medications, and specialized therapies have turned cancer treatment into a life-or-death struggle.
Among those affected is Palestinian researcher Kholoud Abu Sahmoud, whose life changed dramatically shortly after giving birth to her second child.
What began as postnatal complications was later diagnosed as liver cancer following extensive medical testing.
Her condition has rapidly deteriorated. Despite receiving approximately 15 chemotherapy sessions, her health has not improved.
Instead, she has experienced severe side effects, including hair and nail loss, breathing difficulties, and extreme fatigue that now limits her ability to walk.
Her husband, Mamdouh Abu Shahla, said she has been waiting for months for a chance to receive treatment outside Gaza, as local options remain insufficient.
Compounding her suffering are the harsh living conditions caused by displacement during the war.
Instead of receiving proper care, she has been forced to live in an environment lacking basic necessities.
According to Mohammed Abu Nada, head of a local oncology center, the recent rise in diagnosed cancer cases does not necessarily reflect a sudden increase in disease incidence.
Rather, it is the result of patients regaining limited access to medical facilities after months of disruption caused by Israeli genocide and displacement.
He noted that during the early months of the war, many cancer patients died without ever being diagnosed due to their inability to reach hospitals.
Current estimates indicate that between two and three cancer patients die daily in Gaza. Since October 2023, approximately 250 deaths have been recorded, figures that reflect both delayed diagnosis and lack of adequate treatment.
Tareq Al-Mahrouq, a senior nursing official in oncology services, highlighted critical shortages in diagnostic tools and medical supplies.
At present, Gaza reportedly has only two CT scanners serving a population of more than 10,000 cancer patients.
Other essential diagnostic tools, such as mammography and ultrasound machines, are also in short supply, significantly limiting early detection and monitoring of the disease.
The crisis extends to medication shortages, particularly chemotherapy drugs and palliative treatments, leaving many patients without the care they urgently need.
Medical staff warn that delays in transferring patients abroad for treatment are having severe consequences.
Many patients are unable to access specialized care in time, leading to rapid deterioration in their condition.
Healthcare workers report near-daily deaths among cancer patients due to delayed treatment and limited medical capacity, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
The broader humanitarian situation in Gaza has further exacerbated the suffering of cancer patients. Food shortages, repeated displacement, and inadequate living conditions, often in temporary shelters, have significantly weakened patients’ health and resilience.
With more than 10,000 cancer patients in Gaza facing extreme medical and humanitarian challenges, healthcare professionals are calling for urgent international intervention to provide essential medicines, diagnostic tools, and pathways for treatment outside the territory.
Without immediate action, doctors warn, the number of preventable deaths is likely to rise as the healthcare system continues to collapse.
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