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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The Paradox of Nursing Visibility in Community-Based Palliative Care – Ms. Anu Savio Thelly, Abu Dhabi Despite being the backbone of community-based palliative care, nurses remain largely invisible in global advocacy and discourse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While nurses are often the primary providers of palliative care at the grassroots level, policy…
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Upholding Dignity in Healthcare – Dr. Lipika Patra, Meerut Every person holds intrinsic worth, regardless of background, achievement, or social standing. In clinical encounters, patients often feel vulnerable, anxious, or afraid. In our daily practice, unconscious biases can often slip quietly into our work. Patients familiar to us may unintentionally receive preference, while those from…
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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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