Dilliram Aryal's family in Arjai of Malika Rural Municipality-6 in Gulmi is in grave pain after two of his three children were diagnosed with skin cancer.

Aryal's 15-year-old son Naresh and 21-year-old daughter Tulasa were diagnosed with skin cancer resulting to unexpected financial burden to the family. According to Aryal family, they have already spent Rs 1.5 million in the treatment of the disease.

Dilliram, who has been looking after his family with earnings from a minor employment in India, said that they first spotted a black spot in Tulasa's cheek when she was six-months-old but didn't pay attention. Later, it started spreading across the body. The family source said that tumors have started growing and have covered Tulasa's eyes while Naresh has begun experiencing auditory problems.

"We had seen the black spot on our daughter's cheek when she was 6 months old," said Dilliram, "We didn't pay much attention to it in the early days, now it is spreading rapidly and we have no means to get treatment."

Now in desperation, Dilliram says he is willing to sell his land and house if they can avail of any treatment to heal Naresh and Tulasa’s condition. "Till when should we ask money from others for treatment," asks Dilliram, "I am willing to sell my land and house if the cancer treatment cures them of the disease."

However, Tulasa has a different view on the matter. "We know it is a terminal disease," she said, "We haven't observed a bit of an improvement in our conditions but only more problems have mounted."

Arjai Secondary School teacher Shivalal Bhattarai, who has been teaching Naresh, said that the latter is a brilliant student. "Naresh spends 7 months in hospital for treatment but he earns good grades by studying for just three months,” said Bhattarai, "If Naresh's family get some help for the treatment, he can do much better as he is one of the hardworking and studious students that I know."

Meanwhile, Dilliram is stressed because of the expensive medicines and treatment that must be administered to his children. "We are hoping to push death as far as possible and it would be a great help if expenses for the daily medicines could be covered," said Aryal, "At times the medical expenses cross over Rs 150,000."