At Death’s Door
A life-saving intervention for a father in Turkey

Every year on 4 February, World Cancer Day reminds us that cancer is not a death sentence — especially when people can access early diagnosis, accurate information, and timely treatment. 

For people living in poverty, displacement or without legal status, cancer too often becomes a silent killer — not because it cannot be treated, but because they cannot reach the health system in time.

Hayrullah, was 35-year-old father of four children. Originally from the northern Afghan city of Faryab, he and his family fled Afghanistan as Taliban advanced throughout the country. He arrived in Turkey in 2019.

“I had an ordinary life in Afghanistan until they [the Taliban] came. I had a house, I had a car, and provided for my family,” he continues. “I had to sell my car, my house, everything. I lost everything and decided to flee to Turkey.”

In 2018, doctors in Afghanistan diagnosed a 15-cm tumor on Hayrullah’s kidney when he presented to the hospital with complaints of stomachache. Although he started medical treatment for the tumor on the kidney, Hayrullah could neither afford to continue further the treatment nor find appropriate services to remove it. Despite his health deteriorating each passing day, with the Taliban’s advance in the country Hayrullah decided to escape from Afghanistan to Turkey.

After a harsh and challenging journey from Afghanistan Hayrullah and his family settled in Istanbul. He began to work at a leather manufacturing factory. Hayrullah was undocumented: he had no residence or work permits or social security number and worked under exceedingly difficult conditions. As he was deprived of basic rights, Hayrullah did not have access to health care services despite his tumor continuing to grow.

Hayrullah met with DDD in 2022, after he was referred by an association. Following his application, DDD’s health counsellor, Farsi translator and case worker, examined Hayrullah. They decided that he should be urgently referred to a hospital where he can have a medical operation to remove the tumor from his kidney.

As Hayrullah was undocumented, his life saving surgery and health care was not offered free-of charge and other NGOs did not have the mandate or contracts to safely work with undocumented people. DDD negotiated with a private hospital and paid for Hayrullah’s treatment. Dr. Hatipoğlu took Hayrullah under a long and serious operation which lasted seven hours.

“When we noticed that Hayrullah’s life was in danger due to this large-scale tumor, DDD immediately approved the operation, paying for the expenses for him.”

In tears Hayrullah said, “I feared that my four children would be left orphans if I died. Who will look after them? I don’t have money; how and where could I find it under these economic conditions? DDD covered my surgery expenses and saved my life.”