The author describes the bleak picture in cancer care in Mozambique. The nonexistence of routine health checkups generally leads to the detection of cancer cases in advanced stages, making treatment and recovery a great challenge. Only a handful of people have health insurance and the provision of health services to the population in general falls well short of the theoretical right to them. Patients diagnosed with cancer almost face a death sentence, as they are unable to pay for the treatment. A few life stories of patients are presented showing either the way how they were able to raise the required funds or, for another patient, there has been no success in the effort to acquire the drugs for the prescribed treatment. As patients must go abroad for care or to complete treatment, the reasons behind the choice of the destination country are explained. The medical and social impact of delayed diagnosis or of not being able to afford the treatment are presented. The limited medical resources and the need to get the treatment drugs abroad enables cases of self-medication.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Cancer Patient Advocate, Civil and Sanitary Engineer, Former Assistant Professor at Eduardo Mondlane University, lecturing on Water Supply and Sanitation (Engineering School), and Water Related Diseases (Medical School).