Cancer is not just a physical condition. The fatal nature of the disease, and painful treatments one has to go through often takes a toll on the patient and their family’s mental health. In addition the treatment is often long and taxing, making it challenging for people to resume their life as they knew it before cancer. In these scenarios, support groups play a very important role.
Cancer Support groups are meetings of cancer patients and their families with people who have survived cancer or who have been affected by the disease. Such groups provide emotional, physical, and sometimes, even financial support to patients who need them.
Following are some of the known cancer support groups in India.
Indian Cancer Society (ICS)
Indian Cancer Society (ICS) was established in 1951 by Dr. D.J. Jussawalla and Mr. Naval Tata as India’s first voluntary, non-profit, national organisation for awareness, detection, cure and survivorship of those affected with this disease.
ICS is dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families through every stage of their journey. ICS offers a wide range of services, including financial assistance for treatment, early detection programs, patient counselling, and rehabilitation support. Their Cancer Cure Fund provides financial aid to underprivileged patients, making sure that that lack of resources do not prevent them from receiving treatment. In addition, ICS runs awareness campaigns and screening programs to promote early detection, therefore, significantly improving survival rates. ICS also organises patient support groups which helps in providing emotional and psychological care to the patients which helps them in navigating the challenges of cancer with strength.
V Care Foundation
V Care Foundation is a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation that provides free support and care to cancer patients and their families. The organisation was founded in 1994, with an aim to address emotional, financial, and educational needs of cancer patients.
V Care foundation offers counselling services, peer support groups, educational materials, and even practical aids such as wigs, prostheses, and nutritional guidance. Many of the volunteers of V Care foundation are cancer survivors themselves, who help the cancer patients by providing them motivation and firsthand guidance. The foundation also organises recreational activities and workshops for the patients in order to uplift their spirits which helps in their holistic healing and recovery from the deadly disease.
CanSupport
CanSupport is a palliative care organisation. It works to provide compassionate support to cancer patients and their families in the comfort of their own homes.
CanSupport was founded in 1996 in Delhi. It specialises in home-based palliative care, making sure that the patients receive all the medical, emotional and psychological support that they need at their homes. They send out a team of trained doctors, nurses and counsellors to patients’ preferred locations. This specialised team help the patients manage physical and emotional distress, thus improving the quality of their life even while battling cancer.
CanSupport also provides day care services, counselling services, and support groups for both patients and caregivers.
Sanjeevani – Life Beyond Cancer
Sanjeevani – Life Beyond Cancer is a support group which is committed to empowering cancer patients and survivors by providing holistic care and rehabilitation services.
Established in 2012, Sanjeevani focuses on improving the overall well-being of individuals affected by cancer through counselling, nutritional guidance, skill development programs, and emotional support. The organisation’s flagship initiative, “CanSahyog,” pairs cancer survivors with patients, who help them by offering guidance, motivation, and firsthand emotional support.
Sanjeevani also conducts wellness retreats, yoga sessions, and alternative healing therapies to promote physical and mental well-being of the cancer patients.
Udaan
Udaan is a support group dedicated to empowering cancer warriors and survivors. This is a volunteer-driven organisation that provides encouragement, love, and support to the cancer patients. Udaan organises various activities and events to uplift the spirits of cancer patients and their families. These include local visitation groups, support meetings for patients and caregivers, and unlimited prayers. Udaan also offers practical assistance through their Battle Gear Bags, which contain helpful items for patients undergoing treatment.
Udaan’s mission extends beyond just medical support. It focuses significantly on the emotional and psychological well-being of cancer warriors. It helps the cancer survivors with their rehabilitation post recovery, so that they can resume their career or education which was disrupted during cancer treatment.
