Baja Cancer Outreach

Maria’s Story

Maria represents thousands of cancer patients living in rural Baja California Sur, Mexico, where access to cancer diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up care often requires long-distance travel. While some basic cancer care services are available in La Paz, many patients must travel to Tijuana or mainland Mexico for specialized oncology care. Most children and patients with complex cancers must leave Baja entirely to receive lifesaving treatment.

Maria is a housekeeper in Loreto and the sole provider for her family. After discovering a suspicious breast lump, she faces a difficult reality shared by many cancer patients in rural Baja Mexico: traveling 5–6 hours each way to La Paz for medical appointments, diagnostic testing, chemotherapy, and follow-up care. Every trip means lost income, transportation expenses, physical exhaustion, and time away from her children and work.

For families already struggling financially, access to cancer care in Baja California Sur can become an overwhelming burden. Baja Cancer Outreach helps bridge this gap by supporting transportation assistance, patient support services, cancer education, and access to critical healthcare resources for underserved communities across rural Mexico.

Her journey:

• Maria feels a lump in her breast
• She goes to La Paz or Santa Rosalia for a mammogram
• She meets with a surgeon to discuss a biopsy
• Returns for a biopsy, maybe on the same day
• Returns to discuss results and schedule surgery
• Mastectomy, this can take weeks to schedule
• Radiation or chemotherapy requiring dozens of trips. Every time she has a treatment she’s left feeling exhausted or nauseated and faces another 5 hour bus or car ride.

On average, a breast cancer patient, like Maria, will travel to La Paz 26 times in the first year of diagnosis. Each visit means 1–2 nights away from home, eating out, and transportation—about $150 U.S. per trip if she brings a companion. More than that, Maria loses at least two days of wages each time, and as the only income for her family, no one pays her when she misses work.

Wouldn’t you want a companion by your side if you were facing this? Many patients must go alone. Your donation could allow them to bring a “cancer buddy” for loving support.

Our support: 

💞💞💞💞 Here’s where you can help! 💞💞💞💞

Are you willing to give the amount you would normally spend on one special-occasion meal in the U.S. or Canada? Your donation will help Maria, and cancer patients like her, afford 2-3 trips to La Paz. 

26 Trips, One Chance to Survive Cancer

Every mile Maria travels to treatment is a step toward survival. You can help carry her there.

Together, we can save lives in Baja.

Your donation may be tax deductible. Baja Cancer Outreach is a recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization.

 

Our photo is AI generated because everyone deserves privacy on their journey.