SURKIL SHEIKHO

Qamishlo — While medical advancements contribute to increasing treatment chances with early detection, delayed diagnosis remains a primary cause of worsening breast cancer cases.

Historically, patriarchal mentality has dominated society, imposing numerous prohibitions on women. Through a culture of "this is shameful and this is not allowed," women were placed within narrow social constraints, leading to insufficient knowledge of their bodies and inattention to physical changes, such as the appearance of breast lumps.

Visiting a doctor or exposing the body for medical examination is also viewed as a source of shame, leading to diseases remaining hidden until they reach advanced stages.

On the other hand, the capitalist system, under the slogan of "medical progress," has turned human health into a vast commercial market. Capitalism profits from the spread of diseases, and in this system, health is not a fundamental right but a commodity to be bought and sold. Poor women, working women, and rural residents are unable to undergo regular check-ups due to the high costs of treatment and medical services.

The Cancer Treatment Crisis in Syria

These policies are not merely theoretical issues but are directly reflected in the lives of women in regions suffering from wars and crises. Syria is a clear example of this reality; cancer patients suffer from a severe crisis due to shortages of chemotherapy drugs, poor quality of some medical equipment, and high treatment costs—depriving many patients, especially women, of their right to timely and appropriate treatment.

In Rojava, the Women's Oncology Center in Qamishlo represents a different approach in facing this crisis. It is the first specialized and free-of-charge center, opened and managed by the Kurdish Red Crescent organization, providing important services to breast cancer patients and alleviating some of the health and economic burdens they face.

"I Didn't Know I Had Been Affected for 20 Years"

Sheikha Ismail (45 years old), a mother of a daughter and a son from Qamishlo, has been receiving treatment at the Kurdish Red Crescent Center for two years. She recounts her experience with the disease: "After receiving chemotherapy doses and undergoing three tests that were sent to Damascus, it turned out that I had been suffering from a type of breast cancer for twenty years. I did not know that the disease had been accompanying me all these years, eating away at my body and stealing my health."

She explained that her financial situation did not allow her to receive treatment in private hospitals. "Thanks to donations from our people residing in Germany, I was able to receive treatment for a period. But when my condition worsened and I needed chemotherapy, I learned about the Kurdish Red Crescent Center and completed my treatment there."

She affirmed that "all injections and treatments are provided free of charge, and the services provided by the center are very extensive. Without this center, we would have lost half of the breast cancer patients, because many cannot afford treatment costs."

"Cancer Is Eating Away at My Organs"

She said she receives a chemotherapy dose every 22 days. "The cancer has spread to the liver and pelvis, reaching near the kidneys and stomach, and has also affected the arteries of the heart. For two years, it has been eating away at my internal organs. The biopsy sites are still bleeding and inflamed."

A Call for Women to Perform Self-Examination

Sheikha Ismail directed a message to women, affirming that "every woman should perform a self-examination once a month, observing her breasts in front of a large mirror at home, checking for any lump or change under the armpit or in breast size. Breast cancer affects women more than others, so they must take care of their health. If they notice any change, they should see a doctor immediately and not neglect it." She noted that she only became aware of her condition when her breast began to swell, the nipple inverted inward, and bleeding started.

"I Experience Psychological and Physical Torment Every Moment"

She continued: "I never imagined I would get breast cancer. After two or three chemotherapy doses, all my hair fell out, as well as my eyebrows and eyelashes. I became very weak and lost a lot of weight. Without the assistance I received, I would have died."

She says the pain increases after each dose. "After each chemotherapy dose, I spend seven days in severe pain, experiencing indescribable psychological and physical torment. I feel as if I am dying ten times a day and then coming back to life. My entire body burns. I have received the sixth dose so far, and I do not know when the end will be."

Sheikha Ismail called for support for the Kurdish Red Crescent Center: "More support must be provided to the center because it provides all its services free of charge and in the best possible way, especially for the poor. I will continue to pray for the doctors and benefactors as long as I live, and I hope everyone will support this center so that it can treat other patients like me."