Healing Beyond the Hospital: Workshop Calls for Dignified, Inclusive Cancer Care in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Moving beyond ribbons and rallies, Safe Odisha for Her (SOFH) hosted a half-day multi-stakeholder workshop titled “Cancer Survivorship, Patient Centricity, and Oncofertility: Beyond Awareness” to explore what it truly means to provide inclusive and dignified cancer care.

Held under the Jana Nayika Fellowship Program, the workshop brought together oncologists, gynecologists, psychologists, palliative care professionals, disability rights advocates, grassroots health workers, and survivors — all united by a shared belief that healing extends far beyond medical treatment.

The diverse panel included Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Surgical Oncologist, Bagchi Sri Sankara Hospital; Dr. Sandeep Mazumder, Radiation Oncologist, Apollo Hospital; Dr. Lipsa Mishra, Gynecologist with expertise in oncofertility; Ms. Kasturi Mahapatra, former Disability Commissioner of Odisha; Dr. Ardra Anuradha, Medical Officer, Amritdhara Palliative Care; and clinical psychologists Shivanee Tripathi and Puja Sahoo.

Grassroots voices — from Anganwadi and ASHA workers to cancer survivors like Bijoylaxmi Kar — added lived experiences to the dialogue, highlighting everyday challenges of early detection, access to care, and social stigma in rural and low-income communities.

Unlike conventional awareness drives, the workshop focused on the human side of cancer — the fatigue, isolation, financial strain, and emotional trauma that often go unnoticed. A key discussion centered on acknowledging cancer-induced disabilities such as limb loss, lymphedema, and chronic pain within India’s disability rights framework, an issue that remains largely overlooked.

Another significant theme was oncofertility — a new and crucial frontier in cancer care. Experts stressed the need for mandatory fertility counselling and preservation options for patients whose treatments may affect reproductive health.

Speaking at the event, Swati Priyadarshini, a Jana Nayika Fellow and breast cancer survivor, said:

“Today’s conversation was about recognizing the full humanity of a cancer survivor — not just their disease. Beyond treatment lies the journey of healing, dignity, and inclusion. That’s where true patient-centric care begins.”

The workshop created a compassionate space where survivors, caregivers, and experts could interact freely — sharing stories, asking questions, and reimagining systems of support. While time constraints limited deeper exchanges, participants expressed keen interest in continuing the dialogue.

SOFH announced plans to host more such conversations to build stronger support networks and bridge the gap between medical professionals, policymakers, and the community.

The organization expressed gratitude to its partners – Three Chariot Coffee, Third Gender Welfare Trust, Odisha Rainbow Collective, and Bhubaneswar Bikas Sangathan for helping make the initiative possible.

The event concluded with a shared message: cancer care must move beyond awareness towards empathy, equity, and empowerment – because healing, at its core, is human.