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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Expanding the Meaning of Care Beyond Cure – Dr Lipika Patra, Meerut My journey as a palliative care specialist began in Keralam, where I witnessed the remarkable impact of a community-based model in delivering compassionate, patient-centred care. This foundation was further enriched through my experiences in corporate hospitals. I learned the hospice model from Karunashraya…
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From Jodhpur to Barmer: Bridging Care with Compassion – Mr Jagdish Prajapati, Jodhpur Mrs. Jyoti Devi (name changed), a 47-year-old woman, was diagnosed with carcinoma cervix in 2023. She first visited AIIMS Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on 20th December 2023, where she received treatment in the Departments of Radiotherapy and Surgical Oncology. During the course of her…
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Against All Odds: A Child’s Journey to Safe and Dignified Care – The Team PRPCS, Hyderabad Uday (name changed) was born into a financially challenged family, bringing with him hopes and dreams, as the birth of any first child so often does. However, these hopes were soon tested when he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy,…
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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…
Read MoreFrom Pain To Progress: A Rehabilitation Journey After Carcinoma Buccal Mucosa Surgery – Dr Suman Chauhan, Jodhpur Head and neck cancers and their surgical treatment frequently leave patients with lasting functional impairments that extend well beyond the immediate post-operative period. Reduced mouth opening, shoulder dysfunction, persistent musculoskeletal pain, and muscle spasm are among the most…
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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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Between Loss and Living: Reflections from a Psycho-Oncology Practice – Dr. Priyadarshini Pant, Patiala The past ten days have been heavy, as I lost six terminally ill patients to cancer. The experience, however, is always a mixed bag because, just in the last two days, three of my patients—who are cancer survivors—have reported an improvement…
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“When Pain Whispers Fear”- An Adolescent Case That Marked The Beginning – Dr. Dhanashri Kudal, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar It was my very first adolescent case as a Consultant at the State Cancer Institute. I was reviewing my list of new consults when his name appeared. He was 18, barely a man, yet already weathered by…
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Kavita’s Journey of Hope – Dr. Suman Chauhan, Jodhpur Kavita, a 40-year-old woman, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. Hailing from Gujarat she settled in jodhpur after her marriage. She lives with her husband and her daughter, a 19-year girl, who is now in college. For Kavita, her daughter has been a constant source…
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