Halima Hamid walked for weeks across harsh terrain, carrying her ailing mother in search of medical treatment in Kauda, South Kordofan State.
Her mother was suffering from tumours, and nearby towns had offered no remaining treatment options.
The 40-year-old left Al-Daein in East Darfur after hearing that Kauda Hospital was providing free care.
She said the journey was a leap into the unknown, guided only by the hope of easing her mother’s pain.
Travel conditions were extremely difficult, forcing her to take longer and more rugged routes.
She lost contact with her family for about 21 days before eventually reaching Kauda.
Along the way, she sold her mobile phone and personal belongings to pay for food and transport.
Her experience reflects the wider reality facing many cancer patients in western Sudan.
Access to specialised care has sharply declined, leaving families to travel long distances for limited services.
Many medical facilities are no longer fully operational, reducing options for diagnosis and treatment.
Another patient, Aisha Yusuf, described repeated attempts to reach a hospital in Merowe for breast cancer surgery.
Her travel was delayed for nearly a year due to complex arrangements and high transport costs.
She eventually arrived on a relief truck that had passed through East Darfur.
Doctors later told her the disease had spread beyond the point where surgery was possible.
Medical worker Hussein Khamis said hospitals in Darfur lack proper diagnostic tools for tumours.
Patients are often advised to seek care in distant cities or outside the country.
Health workers say financial hardship remains the biggest barrier to accessing treatment.
Dozens of cancer patients are believed to die each month after failing to reach care in time.
