Female Cancer Patients in Yemen: Battling Illness and Life’s Burdens

Yasmine Abdulhafeez – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

In 2020, Abeer Muhammad (a pseudonym) passed away after a long struggle with cancer. Her family suffered greatly from the difficulty of providing essential treatment and healthcare services due to the difficult economic situation.

Her mother turned to charitable people for help in treating her daughter. Despite the limited support she received from charities and specialized centers, this support did not cover Abeer’s needs for medication, oxygen, necessary nutrition, and essential medical supplies, as well as her need for outings to improve her mental health; staying home all the time negatively affected her health.

Abeer’s mother says: “To be a cancer patient in Yemen means to die slowly, facing continuous suffering alongside the pain of the disease, and that obtaining services and treatment requires doubling the suffering, and that the treatment stages are full of challenges. Unfortunately, during my daughter’s treatment journey, I discovered that the reality is painful and difficult.”

The Situation of Female Cancer Patients

Dr. Ghada Muhammad Abdul-Aziz, a specialist in hematology and oncology, confirms that the difficult economic conditions experienced by many women in Yemen hinder their access to cities containing health centers that provide the necessary services for cancer patients. She points out that the majority of women with cancer in Yemen discover the disease in late stages due to their delay in undergoing examinations, while men find it easier to access health centers without any obstacles.

She explains that some women with breast cancer reach the doctor after the disease has spread significantly, causing the entire breast to be eaten away. When asked about the reason for the delay in the visit, the reason is that the area where they live is far from places providing health services, the cost of reaching these centers is a significant burden, or the lack of male companions to help them.

Abdul-Aziz adds: “Many women with cancer neglect their health due to difficult economic conditions, causing them to ignore any signs that may appear on their bodies, hoping they will disappear on their own. Often, the woman discovers that what she is suffering from is a tumor, and with the delay in detection, its spread accelerates to other parts of the body.”

She stresses that early diagnosis significantly contributes to improving treatment opportunities; she says: “The earlier the detection of the disease at an early stage, the easier and better the treatment. In the later stages, the response to treatment becomes weak, and doctors face difficulty in starting chemotherapy due to complications that may have affected the patient, such as low platelets, weakened immunity, or infection with a particular bacterium, which prevents doctors from starting effective treatment.”

Oncology specialists in Yemen agree that the most prevalent types of cancer among women in the country are primarily breast cancer and cervical cancer, in addition to other types such as colon cancer, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, and acute and chronic leukemia.

Dr. Ghada Abdul-Aziz confirms that the spread of cancer among women in Yemen is largely related to the environment and the areas where they live. There are areas with many factories that contribute to the spread of certain types of cancer among their inhabitants, such as chronic leukemia in some areas, while acute leukemia infections increase in other areas. Lymphoma is also more common in some areas.

Dr. Hilal Nu’man, an oncology specialist, says: “Breast cancer and cervical cancer are among the most common types of cancer among women in Yemen, mainly due to the lack of early detection of these types of cancer. Ovarian cancer, although there are cases of it, is less common compared to breast and cervical cancer.”

He also points out that there has been increased awareness of colon cancer as an important health issue, but attention to it remains low in Yemeni society.

Dr. Nu’man stresses the need to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of early cancer screening and health education about these types of cancer, as early detection can significantly improve the chances of diagnosis and effective treatment for affected women.

He believes that the reality of Yemeni women with cancer reflects wide and complex challenges, in light of the ongoing conflicts and difficult economic conditions; women with cancer face several problems related to healthcare, including lack of health services, difficulty accessing treatment centers, difficulty affording treatment costs, women being exposed to feelings of stigma or isolation because of their illness, lack of awareness about the importance of early detection of cancer symptoms, in addition to the lack of ongoing psychological support for many women in Yemen.

Breast Cancer and (Pink) October

Every October, the world celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The goal is to intensify awareness of the risks of this disease, its treatment methods, prevention, and protecting women worldwide from its dangers; as it has claimed the lives of many.

The “Pink October” campaign, launched in 2006, is one of the most prominent global campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the risks of breast cancer. Pink October highlights the importance of early detection of breast cancer, which is a key factor in combating it and achieving successful treatment before it spreads to other parts of the body.

As part of this campaign, many awareness events and activities are organized in various countries around the world in October. The aim is to educate women about preventing factors contributing to the spread of breast cancer, the importance of regular checkups, and various treatment methods.

Dr. Ghada Abdul-Aziz says: “The exact causes of breast cancer are still unknown, but there are factors that increase the likelihood of developing it, known as risk factors. These include exposure to radiation, or the patient’s living environment, which may encourage certain types of cancer. Genetic factors also play a role in increasing the risk, such as if the mother, aunt, or sister has had the disease—first-degree relatives. Some studies indicate that obesity may be a contributing factor to breast cancer.”

She explains that among the most important signs of breast cancer that may appear in women is the presence of a lump in the breast, which may be small or large. It is often painless, but in some cases, it may be painful. She also points out that abnormal nipple discharge, such as bloody or milky discharge, may appear, which is an important symptom that requires a doctor’s consultation.

She adds: “Other signs that may indicate breast cancer include changes in breast shape, called (orange peel), in addition to a change in nipple shape; such as its retraction or inversion. In some cases, a lump may appear in the armpit area, which is also related to the breast. There may also be itching in the breast, and some types of cancer may cause scaling on the breast skin, although this is rare compared to other symptoms such as lumps or bloody discharge.”

Regarding the prevention of breast cancer, Dr. Ghada emphasizes that early detection is the best way to prevent the disease. Screening includes two types: the first is self-examination performed by women at home, which should be done monthly, usually after the menstrual period; this can help distinguish between normal and abnormal lumps. The second is an examination by a specialist or in health centers that organize awareness activities, such as the “Pink Day” held every October.

She also stresses the importance of regular checkups for women with a family history of breast cancer, especially if a first-degree relative (such as the mother, sister, or maternal aunt) has had the disease. She explains that in this case, self-examination is preferably done under the supervision of a specialist, with regular checkups every three to six months being necessary. These measures reduce the incidence of breast cancer, help stop the spread of the disease, and accelerate its treatment.

Statistics

According to a 2019 World Health Organization report titled “Cancer patients face the risk of death in Yemen,” more than 35,000 cancer patients in Yemen face significant health and economic challenges. The report stated that the National Center for Oncology in Sana’a receives approximately 600 patients monthly, averaging 25 cases daily.

The increasing number of cancer cases prompted intervention from international humanitarian organizations, such as the World Health Organization, which provided vital support to health centers specializing in cancer treatment. The WHO’s support included distributing essential medicines and medical supplies to approximately 30,000 patients over a year, alleviating the suffering of patients amidst Yemen’s economic and humanitarian crisis.

UNICEF stated that cervical cancer is one of the deadliest cancers affecting women, causing the death of one woman every two minutes globally. In 2022, it resulted in approximately 350,000 deaths and nearly 700,000 new diagnoses.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) noted that 85% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer live in low- or middle-income countries. Cancer is among the deadliest diseases for women in 42 countries.

The situation in Yemen is more complex. Only one in ten women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the last five years has been screened, according to the WHO report. In 2019, the number of deaths resulting from the disease exceeded 100 women.

Cervical cancer ranks twelfth among the most common diseases among women in Yemen, according to the ICO/IARC Information Centre. The center estimates that more than 200 new cases are diagnosed annually, while the disease causes the deaths of more than 150 women annually.