Collapse of Gaza’s diagnostic system leaves hundreds of breast cancer cases undetected
Screening and early diagnosis have nearly stopped, while radiotherapy is unavailable and essential cancer medicines remain scarce
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) — The collapse of breast cancer screening and diagnostic services in Gaza may have left hundreds of women with the disease undiagnosed, the Palestinian Health Ministry warned Thursday.
The ministry issued the warning at the start of “Pink October,” the global breast cancer awareness month, saying women with cancer in Gaza face a “catastrophic health and humanitarian reality.”
Breast cancer screening and early diagnosis services are now “extremely limited and virtually suspended,” it said.
Severe shortages and repeated breakdowns of mammography machines, along with a lack of laboratory reagents and other medical supplies, have deprived women of opportunities for early detection.
Treatment options have also been severely reduced.
Oncology departments face shortages of chemotherapy drugs, hormonal treatments and targeted therapies, while radiotherapy is completely unavailable inside Gaza, according to the ministry.
Surgeries to remove advanced tumors have also stopped because specialized medical capabilities are unavailable.
Before Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, around 360 new breast cancer cases were diagnosed annually in the enclave. That figure fell to 250 in 2024 and around 260 in 2025.
Based on the pre-war rate, the ministry said more than 1,000 cases would have been expected over roughly three years, suggesting hundreds of women may have gone undiagnosed.
“The most dangerous thing we face today is not only the number of patients who are diagnosed, but the number of women who may have the disease without it being detected early,” the ministry said.
Cancer patients also face severe restrictions on accessing treatment outside Gaza. The ministry said movement restrictions and crossing closures have prevented hundreds of urgent cases from reaching specialized oncology centers elsewhere.
“Pink October from Gaza is not merely an awareness campaign, but a humanitarian distress call,” it said.
Gaza’s health system has suffered extensive destruction since October 2023, with hospitals and other medical facilities destroyed or forced out of service. Shortages of medicines, medical supplies and fuel have further restricted treatment, particularly for cancer and other chronic illnesses.
More than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 2023.
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