Cancer Care in Palestine

Abstract

Cancer among the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza is increasingly becoming a public health concern. It is the second most common cause of mortality. A total of 2189 new cases have been reported in the West Bank in 2013 (51 % females, 49 % males). Both in the West Bank and Gaza, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and lung cancer among men. In children less than 15 years old, leukemia is the most common one. Cancer is diagnosed at late stages, at least 60 % of cancer cases are diagnosed at Stage III or IV. Culture, limited resources, and lack of access to medical facilities contributed to late diagnosis. Four hospitals in the West Bank and three in Gaza provide cancer care in terms of diagnosis and treatment and one center in the West Bank, Dunya Women Cancer Center, is specialized in providing diagnostic services for breast and gynecological cancers. Only Augusta Victoria hospital provides radiation therapy and individualized oncology, and An-Najah University hospital provides bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Most referrals are to Israeli, Jordanian, and Egyptian hospitals; however, the referrals to Jordan and Egypt are decreasing dramatically with time. Isotope scans like PET-CT is not available in the West Bank and Gaza and all cases are referred to Israeli hospitals. Cancer care is improving in Palestinian hospitals with time; however, services like palliative care, targeted therapy, bone-marrow transplantation, and individualized therapy are still limited. Shortage of specialized physicians and the availability of drugs, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy needs to be overcome.

and when I am sick, then He restores me to health

Ash-Shu’araa, Sura 26 Verse 80