{"id":129403,"date":"2025-09-07T10:33:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T10:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=129403"},"modified":"2025-09-07T10:43:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T10:43:43","slug":"cancer-center-in-deir-ez-zor-provides-lifeline-amid-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/129403\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer center in Deir ez-Zor provides lifeline amid challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) \u2013 <\/strong>In Deir ez-Zor city, eastern Syria, a region ravaged by years of conflict and destruction, the Blood and Oncology Center stands as a vital beacon of hope for hundreds of patients battling cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operated by the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), the center provides chemotherapy services free of charge, striving to overcome the immense challenges facing the local healthcare system. Yet, limited funding and a growing patient load continue to strain its resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Refuge for patients<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Khaled Khattab, director of the Blood and Oncology Center, told North Press that the facility is more than a treatment site\u2014it is a refuge for patients in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“At the center, we currently treat eight types of cancer, including breast, stomach, colon, bladder, testicular, and ovarian cancers, as well as blood diseases such as Hodgkin\u2019s and non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma, and leukemia,” Khattab explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added, “Chemotherapy services and medical consultations are offered free of charge throughout the week.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The center serves large numbers of patients daily, and one of its most notable achievements is the absence of a waiting list. Every patient receives treatment on the same day, a goal staff work tirelessly to maintain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equipped with six chemotherapy beds, the center is staffed by highly trained doctors and nurses who undergo regular training with Syrian-American oncologists, either through permanent missions or remote consultations and case evaluations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arduous journey<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For patients, the battle against cancer extends beyond the disease itself to the difficult journey to access treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nawaf Jassem al-Jalloud, a patient from the village of al-Tabiyyah in eastern Deir ez-Zor, described the journey as grueling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The trip to Damascus lasts from dawn until evening prayers,” he said. “The road is challenging for everyone, but for patients, the hardship is multiplied by the need for repeated travel for treatment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even within Damascus, patients face exhausting commutes between hospitals and temporary accommodations, compounding fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Jalloud also highlighted the inconsistency of medical test results. “I do tests in Deir ez-Zor, but when I reach Damascus, the results often differ, forcing me to repeat costly tests,” he said. He called for diagnostic and imaging services to be provided on-site to ease patients\u2019 burdens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mounting challenges  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The center faces significant obstacles, Mohammed Nabil Ahmad, director of SAMS\u2019 office, told North Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe center is fully supported by SAMS, which covers all operating costs,\u201d Ahmad said. “However, funding is under severe strain. Our main challenges are limited resources, scarce medicines, and the rising number of patients across eastern Syria.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deir ez-Zor has one of the highest cancer rates in Syria, further increasing pressure on the center. Despite these challenges, Ahmad stressed that SAMS maintains strong coordination with UN agencies and local and international organizations to ensure uninterrupted services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAMS reaffirmed its commitment to serving all regions of Syria, from the far northeast to the southwest. The organization has recently opened a similar center in Daraa city and plans further expansion in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reporting by <\/strong>Ali al-Beki\u2019  <\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Editing by Jwan Shekaki<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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