Every day, many cancer patients from all over China arrive in Beijing and Shanghai seeking medical treatment. High medical expenses mean a tight budget, and during the necessary extended therapy sessions, they have to live in cheap lodgings near hospitals. These rooms have become known as "cancer inns."

Hospitals in big cities are often their last hope of survival, because the quality of medical treatment in their hometowns is not so reliable. The unbalanced distribution of medical resources in big cities and other parts of China poses great difficulties in seeking a cure.

When receiving treatment in the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) in Beijing, Sun Yu lived in a 10-square-meter windowless room that cost 40 Yuan (US$6.4) a day.

The 64-year-old woman from north China's Hebei Province had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. Local doctors said they could do nothing, because the disease was already in the terminal stage. "If doctors in Beijing can't cure me, I have no other chance of survival; in any case, I can't wait to die," she said.

Zhang Qingxiang from east China's Shandong Province also developed ovarian cancer. She consulted doctors in her hometown as soon as she felt unwell, but the doctors told her everything was fine. "When I was finally diagnosed with cancer, I was in the terminal stage," she said. "I wouldn't have been in such a state if the doctors in my hometown had discovered the disease at an early stage. I was impossible to seek treatment in local hospitals, so I came to Beijing."

In Shanghai, Mr. Yan from east China's Jiangxi Province lived in a dilapidated building next to the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center while seeking treatment for nasopharynx cancer. "If you want to recover, you really have to come to famous hospitals in big cities. We have a better chance of survival here," he said.

Near the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, there are many "for rent" ads on the walls and property agents distribute business cards to every passer-by. "When receiving radiation treatment or chemotherapy here, most people will choose to rent a room," said one of the agents.

"The sessions are long and frequent, and the patients usually have family members to look after them. Even though the rooms are narrow and shabby, they can cook nutritious meals by themselves. If they live in hotels, the cost will be very high and to make ends meet they have to buy food from the streets."

Seeing doctors outside their hometowns, these patients have to spend more and recoup less under China's current public medical insurance system, which is based on patient domicile.

"It's a lucky chance to find a cheap place to live in Beijing," Zhang Qingxiang said. While undergoing treatment, she ate homemade pancakes and stir-fried carrots every day to save money. "I'm covered by the new rural cooperative medical care system, which can reimburse some of my medical expenses in hospitals inside the province, but it doesn't offer much if I see doctors outside the province," she said. "I have borrowed about 90,000 Yuan (US$14,391). I don't know when I can pay them back."

Mr. Yan was also a patron of "cancer inn".

"I spent 6,000 Yuan (US$959) when I first came to Shanghai to receive chemotherapy," he said. "I have spent tens of thousands of Yuan to see doctors. I don't know how much I can get reimbursed by the medical care system, and I don't know when the treatment will end."

Sun Yu's cancer reappeared. "We have to continue with the treatment, but where can we borrow money?" her husband said in anguish. The couple had already spent more than 200,000 Yuan (US$31,980) on therapy. Technically, they should have been able to get back 60 percent, but in fact, the reimbursement only totaled 30 percent of the expenses, because many tests and treatment were not covered by the medical care system.

"We have borrowed more than 80,000 Yuan (US12,792) from relatives and friends. All the people we know have lent us money. We don't know where to turn to now," her husband said.

However, for Sun, there is one bright spot. "Although doctors back at home said that I had only one or two years to live, several people who sought treatment with me have died, I'm still alive."