A Cup of Coffee, A Cup of Gratitude Dr Rajith R., Coimbatore One of the most beautiful moments during home visits is something that can never be documented in a patient record—the inevitable cup of coffee waiting for us. We receive the same invitation in almost every home: “Doctor, please have a cup of coffee…
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When Words Fall Silent: Communication Beyond Words in Palliative Care Mr Anshid C. I., Chennai “Communication is the key.” Everyone working in palliative care has probably heard this sentence many times. Classes on communication, training sessions, models, and protocols are part of our learning. We are taught how to talk to patients and their families,…
Read MoreSome people leave the hospital, Some never leave your heart Dr Amit Jain, Delhi “मैं उनके सामने कमज़ोर नहीं पड़ सकता…” A few days ago, a 76-year-old gentleman with advanced prostate cancer was admitted to our Palliative and End-of-Life Care Unit. He had been under our care before, but this time, the disease had won…
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When Seeing Was More Than Sight A Psycho-Oncology Narrative Ms Alisha Karim, Varanasi How She Got Here The diagnosis came late and came hard. In December 2025, a brain lesion was read as tuberculoma. Anjali started anti-TB treatment. She was on it for months. Then she began coughing up blood. Bronchoscopy. Biopsy. And then the…
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The Courage to Stand Down at the Fractured Bedside Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai “I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh.…
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“The Other Side of Medicine” — A Reflection on My Journey in Palliative Care Dr. Vanumu Divya Sai, Hyderabad There are moments in medicine that stay with you—not because of what you treated, but because of what you felt. I was trained, like most of us, to diagnose, to intervene, to cure. Success was measurable.…
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Beyond the Clinical Gaze – A Psychology Student’s Journey in Palliative Care – Ms Shreya Krishnan, Visakhapatnam As a psychology student, my clinical experience has primarily been rooted in psychiatric wards, where I conducted assessments and supported families through the complexities of severe mental disorders. I walked into the Department of Palliative Medicine at Homi…
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They Lifted Her When Others Would Not – Dr Chhaya Chandrasekhar, New Delhi Usha died quietly. But the silence around her was full of questions. I had watched her illness in pieces, a young woman with cancer of the buccal mucosa, never treated, growing weaker because poverty kept closing doors. Her husband, already disabled, moved…
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Palliative Care in Indian Oncology: Between Light and Shadow – Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai Timing matters in oncology and palliative care In the corridors of Indian oncology wards, I have often found myself reflecting on a question with no easy answer: “when should palliative care begin?” Should it start immediately after a cancer diagnosis,…
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A Journey of the Heart: How Palliative Care Training Changed the Way I See Volunteering – Ms. Shashikala Devanesen, Chennai As a volunteer from Dean Foundation, Chennai. I had the great privilege of participating in the online Volunteers Training Programme conducted by IAPC from 20-25 November 2025. When I signed up for the Foundation Course…
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