For many women diagnosed with cancer in Greece, the disease is only part of the battle. Long after treatment begins, many continue to face isolation, financial hardship, mental health struggles and the burden of maintaining family and work responsibilities with limited institutional support.
These findings are highlighted in a new study by health economist Professor Kostas Athanasakis, titled Cancer in Women in Greece: Evaluating the Health System’s Performance in Addressing Care Needs and Life Roles. The research argues that cancer should no longer be viewed solely as a medical condition but as a long-term social, economic and workplace challenge.
The emotional toll after diagnosis
The study is accompanied by personal testimonies from women whose experiences illustrate the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.
Moschoula Besta, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer 35 years ago, says the words she remembers most vividly are not from her treatment, but from the reactions of those around her.
“They were telling my husband to find another wife because I was going to die,” she recalls.
More than three decades later, Maria K., a breast cancer patient, describes a different era but a similar sense of isolation. After months of hospitalization and multiple complications, she says she had to seek psychiatric support on her own.
“No one referred me. I had to find help myself,” she says.
Both women describe depression and loneliness as some of the greatest challenges following diagnosis, with psychological support largely absent despite its importance.
Women carry multiple roles
According to the study, women experience cancer differently from men because they often continue to shoulder multiple social and family responsibilities throughout treatment.
More than 75% of informal caregivers in Greece are women, meaning many continue caring for children, elderly parents or other relatives even while undergoing cancer treatment themselves.
Rather than suspending these responsibilities, illness often makes them significantly more difficult to manage.
The hidden financial burden
The research also points to the substantial economic cost faced by patients.
Although access to cancer treatments has improved, many essential services—including psychological care, rehabilitation and home care—are often paid for out of pocket.
The average private expenditure for a woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer is estimated at €4,673.
The financial impact extends to entire households. In families with a cancer patient, health-related expenses account for around 50% of household spending, compared with 9% in other households, forcing many families to reduce spending on essentials such as food, housing and clothing.
Unequal access to care
The study identifies significant geographical inequalities in access to healthcare, with women living in remote or island communities facing greater obstacles in obtaining treatment and support services.
Psychological care, palliative care and home-based services remain limited, while around half of women surveyed reported having to travel to another regional unit to receive treatment.
Gaps in the healthcare system
The report concludes that supporting women with cancer requires broader social policies in addition to healthcare reforms, arguing that employers should also play a role in helping patients remain active in work and society.
At the healthcare level, officials acknowledge that Greece still falls short of international standards for comprehensive cancer care.
According to Olga Balaoura, head of Greece’s 1st Regional Health Authority, the country currently has only one certified Comprehensive Cancer Centre, despite World Health Organization recommendations that by 2030, 90% of cancer patients should receive care through certified multidisciplinary cancer centers.
She also noted that Greece has yet to establish certified breast centers within the public health system, a national cancer action plan, or more than a single survivorship center. In addition, multidisciplinary oncology boards—which are considered a cornerstone of modern cancer management—are still not operating consistently across the country.
The study concludes that surviving cancer is only one part of the journey. Without stronger psychological, financial and social support, many women continue to bear a burden that extends well beyond the disease itself.
