Apollo Cancer Centres (ACC) has launched CanWin, a cancer support group designed to provide structured emotional and psychological support to patients, survivors, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Unveiled during National Cancer Survivors Month, the initiative aims to complement clinical treatment with survivor-led guidance, therapy-based storytelling and open dialogue.
The launch event began with survivors sharing their personal narratives of treatment, recovery and coping. A 10-year-old Medulloblastoma survivor from Chennai shared his experience, starting with how a routine check-up led to answers for many of his symptoms.
A Hodgkin lymphoma survivor spoke about her delayed diagnosis and complex treatment journey. “Just months after giving birth, I discovered a lump — first mistaken for tuberculosis. What followed were relapses, five lines of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and 35 rounds of radiation. I missed my child’s early years, but I came through with the support of my family and medical team,” she said.
Priyanka Bagdi, a leukemia survivor, doctor and author of a book about her experience, spoke about her prolonged hospital stays and the emotional toll of treatment. Experts at the event stressed that while clinical outcomes are improving with advanced diagnostics and early detection, stigma around cancer screening and diagnosis remains a significant barrier. In a panel discussion that followed they called for urgent efforts to normalise conversations around diagnostic tools and to strengthen psychosocial support within cancer care.
The programme will continue through monthly support group meetings, survivor-led workshops, expert sessions and volunteering opportunities.