Dr. Salah al-Zaanin, a consultant laser and plastic surgeon, is preparing to conduct a breast reconstruction surgery in two weeks in his clinic in the Gaza Strip. The patient is a 37-year-old Palestinian woman who had a mastectomy due to cancer about four years ago.

Although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among females in Palestine — accounting for 31.1% of the total number of cancer cases among women — breast reconstructive surgery is limited in a society where female patients undergo much suffering. 

Testimonies provided to Al-Monitor show that women who have breast cancer and undergo a mastectomy may be abandoned by their husbands, get divorced or become a second wife.

Zaanin told Al-Monitor that in his private clinic in Gaza, he sometimes performs two cases of breast reconstructive surgery per month, while at other times four months may pass without any operation. He said that this is due to the financial crisis in the besieged enclave, although the cost of such a surgery in the Gaza Strip is very low compared to other countries and reaches a maximum of $3,000.