HELPING CANCER PATIENTS
Dr. Shivam, Clinical Director at Global Cancer Care and Nivedita Basu, Founder, Global Cancer Care
Team L&M
India steps into a crucial new chapter in cancer support with the launch of Global Cancer Care (GCC), a patient-first initiative created to help individuals navigate the fear, confusion, and uncertainty that accompany the earliest signs of cancer. Founded by noted media professional Nivedita Basu, the platform emerges at a time when India faces rising cancer incidence and delayed diagnosis trends that continue to challenge public health outcomes.
According to WHO and ICMR projections, India is expected to see a significant rise in new cancer cases by 2025, with breast, cervical, and oral cancers dominating the burden. Despite this, national screening participation remains low; data from the National Health Profile suggests that over 70% of Indian women do not undergo regular preventive screenings, and most consultations occur only after symptoms worsen. Complementing these findings, Gartner’s 2025 Health Behaviour Insights reported that fear, uncertainty, and lack of navigation remain the top psychological barriers keeping Indians from seeking early medical intervention, especially for conditions associated with stigma or life-altering outcomes. IDC’s 2025 Healthcare Outlook further highlights that patient navigation and emotional support are among the most underdeveloped links in India’s care continuum, causing delays that directly affect survival outcomes.
Confronting the unknown
It was against this backdrop and during her own deeply personal health scare earlier this year that Nivedita realised just how isolating the early stages of a possible cancer diagnosis can be. The discovery of a breast lump led her into a cycle of tests, medical terminology, conflicting advice, and emotional turmoil. “You feel the fear even before you feel the diagnosis,” she shares. “The unknown becomes bigger than the disease itself, and during that time, there is no one who tells you what to do, where to go, or how to hold yourself together. Global Cancer Care has been created so that no one has to walk those first frightening steps alone.”
This emotional vacuum became the foundation for GCC. Rather than focusing solely on treatment, GCC addresses the gaps that appear long before a patient enters a hospital: the hesitation to screen, the fear of what might come next, the confusion around tests, and the loneliness that shadows every step. The platform’s philosophy, “Because I Care,” represents a return to humane, guided healthcare one that recognises that emotional safety influences clinical outcomes just as significantly as timely detection does.
Guided by a multidisciplinary team and supported by oncologists across Mumbai, GCC offers individuals clarity from the moment they feel something is “not right.” Patients are helped through symptom understanding, screening pathways, diagnostic interpretation, and connections to credible medical specialists. The organisation also supports individuals undergoing chemotherapy, offering structured guidance and access to cooling cap therapy an option that provides emotional reassurance during a physically and psychologically challenging phase.
Delayed diagnosis, a huge challenge
Healthcare experts echo the urgency of such support. Dr. Shivam, Clinical Director at GCC, notes that “Delayed diagnosis remains one of India’s biggest cancer challenges, and the data consistently points to navigational gaps as a key cause. When people are unsure of what a test means, whom to consult, or how serious a symptom is, they freeze. When they freeze, disease progresses. GCC aims to ensure that fear never becomes the reason someone loses time and time is everything in cancer care. When patients feel emotionally supported and medically guided, they make decisions sooner. That alone can change outcomes.”
As India leans into a more preventive, patient-centric healthcare model, platforms like GCC are emerging as essential support systems. Industry reports from IDC further predict a strong shift toward patient support ecosystems, particularly those that blend clinical guidance with psychological and informational assistance an area where India still lags. GCC steps directly into this need, normalising cancer conversations, empowering women aged 30–60 (India’s most under-screened demographic), and creating a safe space for early intervention.
