Some women in Afghanistan diagnosed with breast cancer face not only the challenge of fighting the disease but also financial hardship, limited access to specialized healthcare services and difficulties covering treatment costs. At a time when some families travel to neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, to seek specialized medical care, border closures, visa difficulties and high travel expenses can make access to treatment even more challenging. For women living with the disease, any delay in diagnosis or the start of treatment can bring further concerns.
Doctors emphasize that early detection, access to specialized services and timely treatment are important in improving patients’ conditions. However, poverty, limited awareness of the symptoms, inadequate treatment facilities and insufficient support for some families are among the challenges facing women with breast cancer in Afghanistan.
The accounts of women whose families have been affected by the disease show that breast cancer is not merely a physical illness. It can affect the lives of every family member, leaving them to deal with fear, anxiety, high expenses and difficult decisions.
Zulaikha, one of the women speaking about the situation of breast cancer patients, says awareness of the disease must be increased among women and families. According to her, some women delay visiting a doctor because they fear a diagnosis, feel embarrassed or worry about the cost of treatment.
“When a woman notices an unusual change in her breast, she should be able to visit a doctor without fear or embarrassment. Unfortunately, some women do not have enough information about the symptoms of this disease, and sometimes they seek an examination only when their concerns have grown,” Zulaikha says.
She adds that families should encourage women to seek medical care promptly and, if they are diagnosed with the disease, support them rather than blaming them or making them more afraid. According to Zulaikha, awareness campaigns at healthcare centers, through the media and in community programs can help women recognize warning signs and take steps to have their health checked.
Sara, another woman speaking about the challenges faced by breast cancer patients, says the costs of examinations, tests, medication and treatment can place a heavy burden on low-income families. According to her, when a family member becomes ill, the family faces not only health concerns but also financial and psychological difficulties.
“When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, her family needs support and access to medical facilities. But for a family without sufficient income, covering the costs of examinations and treatment is not easy. The patient needs peace of mind and care, while the family may have to spend all its time trying to find money and a way to obtain treatment,” Sara says.
She adds that financial hardship should not prevent women from accessing essential healthcare services. She says arrangements must be made to ensure that patients in need can receive examinations and treatment at affordable costs.
Sara also stresses the importance of emotional support from family members, saying that a woman facing breast cancer needs empathy, hope and companionship, in addition to medical treatment.
Nargis, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, describes a painful experience as her family tried to find treatment for her. She says the experience left them caught between hope for recovery and fear that the disease was progressing. According to Nargis, after learning about her mother’s illness, the family tried to take her to Pakistan to receive specialized medical care. The family believed that they needed access to specialized facilities in that country to have her mother’s condition examined and treated. However, border closures and the failure to obtain a visa disrupted their travel plans.
“When we found out that my mother had breast cancer, all we could think about was taking her to Pakistan for treatment. We wanted to do everything within our power to help her recover. In those days, every possibility we found for getting her treatment meant a great deal to us,” Nargis says.
She adds that during those difficult days, her family tried to find a way to take her mother abroad, but travel restrictions and the lack of a visa increased their anxiety. The family did not know how to continue her treatment when access to the services she needed had become so difficult.
“The hardest moment for us was knowing that my mother was ill and needed treatment, but being unable to take her easily to a place where we believed the necessary facilities were available. Every day, we woke up hoping that perhaps a way would be found. Alongside our worries about my mother’s illness, we were also tormented by the thought of what would happen if we lost the opportunity to get her treatment,” she says.
According to Nargis, her mother’s illness placed the entire family under emotional strain. They wanted to stay by her side, give her hope and do everything they could to secure treatment. However, difficulties accessing healthcare increased the sense of helplessness among family members.
“For a mother, her family is her greatest source of hope and comfort, and for children, imagining life without their mother is extremely difficult. We wanted my mother to know that she was not alone and that we were doing everything we could to help save her. It was painful that instead of focusing on her treatment, we had to worry about travel routes, visas and whether we could make the journey,” Nargis says.
Nargis’s experience highlights the difficulties some families face when trying to obtain medical care abroad. For patients who need specialized services outside Afghanistan, travel expenses, the preparation of required documents and restrictions on movement can create serious obstacles. This situation underscores the importance of strengthening diagnostic and treatment services within Afghanistan and providing support to patients with limited financial means or those who must travel to access specialized care.
Sahar, another woman speaking about the challenges facing breast cancer patients, says patients in Afghanistan may face health, economic and social difficulties at the same time. According to her, treatment costs, limited access to specialist doctors and uncertainty about the future place additional pressure on patients and their families.
“A woman diagnosed with breast cancer needs treatment, support and peace of mind. She should not feel that she has no options because of poverty or a lack of facilities. Families and communities should stand by her and help ensure that she can access healthcare services,” Sahar says.
She adds that raising public awareness about breast cancer, providing examination and diagnostic services, ensuring access to appropriate treatment and supporting low-income families are among the measures that could help improve patients’ circumstances. Sahar stresses that women should be able to discuss their health concerns without fear or embarrassment and should consult a doctor if they notice unusual symptoms.
Breast cancer is a disease that requires specialized assessment and the selection of an appropriate treatment method once it is detected. A lump in the breast or underarm, changes in the size or shape of the breast, dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple and unusual nipple discharge are among the signs that should be taken seriously. However, these changes do not necessarily mean that a person has cancer, and a definitive diagnosis requires medical examination.
Early detection can play an important role in choosing a treatment method and improving its outcomes. For this reason, raising women’s awareness of warning signs and ensuring their access to healthcare services are essential.
However, visiting a doctor can only contribute to effective treatment if the necessary diagnostic and medical services are also available. The costs of examinations and medication, shortages of specialized facilities and difficulties traveling for some patients are issues that must be considered in healthcare planning.
Nargis’s account shows that for a family dealing with the illness of a loved one, access to treatment can become one of life’s most pressing concerns. In such circumstances, support from family and the community is important, but it must be accompanied by the availability of medical services and the ability to access them.
Raising public awareness, strengthening diagnostic and treatment facilities, providing affordable healthcare services and supporting patients who need financial assistance could help reduce the difficulties faced by women with breast cancer.
Women with breast cancer need timely diagnosis and treatment, emotional support and access to healthcare services to confront the disease. No patient should be prevented from seeking essential medical care because of poverty or difficulties accessing treatment.
