Shafaq News- Baghdad
Breast cancer accounts for 22.7% of cancer diagnoses among women in Iraq and remains one of the country’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths, according to 2026 Health Ministry data.
Figures presented at Cihan University-Erbil earlier this month recorded 9,043 breast cancer cases in Iraq in 2026, accounting for 19.5% of the 46,682 cancer cases registered nationwide. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimated 7,461 new breast cancer cases and 3,366 deaths from the disease over the same period.
The 3.2-percentage-point difference between the figures may seem small, but it matters when measuring the scale of a disease and planning healthcare services. For oncological surgeon Dr. Salam Musa, it points to a deeper problem: Iraq lacks a comprehensive cancer registry.
“One of the problems we face in Iraq is the data,” Musa told Shafaq News. He said cancer statistics before 2003 were vulnerable to political influence, while subsequent efforts to collect and organize information had yet to produce a complete national database.
The problem extends to how hospitals record and share patient information. Private hospitals and clinics do not consistently enter their records into a unified system, while public hospitals maintain separate databases. Gaps in coordination and verification can leave cases out of national statistics, making it difficult for health authorities to establish how many patients have cancer and where they live.
Calling on the Ministry of Health to create a centralized electronic registry covering both public and private healthcare providers, he stressed that a woman diagnosed at a hospital in Basra, for instance, should appear in the same system as a patient treated at a private clinic elsewhere in Iraq. “Such a database would give officials a clearer picture of diagnoses and help them plan healthcare services.’’
Individual hospitals offer a glimpse of the burden, though their figures cannot substitute for a national count. Hiwa Cancer Hospital in Al-Sulaymaniyah registered 630 breast cancer cases in 2025 among 3,147 confirmed cancer diagnoses. Its numbers also include patients from other parts of Iraq, making them an incomplete measure of the nationwide total, according to hospital director Eyad al-Naqshbandi.
Musa also warned against confusing possible risk factors with established causes of breast cancer. Research has examined potential links to early menstruation, late menopause and the use of certain hormones, as well as cosmetics, hair dyes and chemical exposure.
“There are many studies discussing factors that may contribute to an increased likelihood of developing cancer, but these are partial risk factors, not confirmed causes with 100% certainty,” he explained.
“Chemicals may enter the body and affect health,” Musa said, referring to exposure through air, water, and food. But he cautioned against attributing cancer to a single substance without considering other environmental and health factors.
Read more: Iraq's breast cancer challenge: Care halted by delays and shame
Awareness Takes Root
Greater awareness of early detection is becoming apparent among women, according to Dr. Nidal al-Baghdadi, a breast health specialist who has conducted surveys on the subject.
“What caught my attention through the surveys I conduct is that women have become more aware of the importance of early detection of breast cancer,” al-Baghdadi told Shafaq News. More women, she said, are seeking examinations.
Women are also learning to recognize changes that warrant medical attention, including lumps and other abnormalities. Interest in mammography is growing, along with familiarity with the procedure and where it is available.
For al-Baghdadi, improving access is just as important as raising awareness, urging healthcare authorities to expand specialized breast health units in primary healthcare centers, where staff could examine abnormalities, identify benign conditions, and refer patients for further tests or treatment when needed.
Some healthcare institutions are already seeing more patient visits, she said, while others are working to set up dedicated spaces for breast health information and awareness. Such services could bring screening closer to women who live far from specialist facilities.
The need for care does not end with a diagnosis. “Women who fear their cancer may progress or spread also need psychological support,’’ al-Baghdadi added, noting that providing appropriate psychological support, helping women adapt to their condition and strengthening their inner resilience are important at this stage.
Some women have completed treatment and returned to their daily lives. Their experiences, al-Baghdadi said, can offer encouragement to others facing similar fears.
Figures from Warith International Cancer Institute provide another snapshot of screening and follow-up. Between October 2024 and October 2026, the institute recorded 3,410 examinations, according to data it provided. The figures also listed 132 diagnosed cases and 521 female patients under close follow-up, with 60% of cases detected at early stages.
Spotting Early Signs
Knowing what to look for is one part of early detection. Dr. Wasan al-Ghanimi, a consultant specializing in early cancer detection, described two ways women can check for breast cancer: self-examination and clinical examination.
“Self-examination does not replace clinical examination,” al-Ghanimi told Shafaq News, stressing the need for professional assessment.
Warning signs can include bloody nipple discharge and changes in breast shape or skin. In some cases, the skin takes on an orange-peel appearance. Mild pain may also occur in the early stages, she said. Obesity and heredity may contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer.
The WHO also lists breast lumps and thickening among possible symptoms and advises women to seek medical assessment for suspicious changes, as early diagnosis and timely treatment can improve outcomes.
Read more: Home or Hope? The Impossible Choice for Iraqi Cancer Patients