Guo Dianjun lay on a bed in a shabby hut, unable to speak clearly after nasal cancer had spread to his mouth, neck, eyes and ears.

The 62-year-old villager struggles to swallow five kinds of pills a day to contain the cancerous cells and has to sit through regular intravenous drips to maintain his salt and protein levels.

Four years ago, he was diagnosed with nasal cancer, and for the last two he has been too weak to get out of bed. He can't open his mouth wide, and he can't chew. The only solid food he eats is sausage cut into pieces by his brother.