World Cancer Day: When Care Reaches Home, Hope Finds a Way

-  By Varsha Pawar (RPC, Program Officer)

On World Cancer Day, we often speak about cancer in loud voices—numbers, campaigns, and promises of cure. But sometimes, cancer speaks softly. It whispers from the corner of a small home, from an elderly body tired of pain, and from eyes that have seen a long life and are still holding on with dignity.

During a home visit in Dharavi, I met Salma Bee, a 75-year-old woman living with cancer. Her home was modest and her space limited, but the weight of her illness was immense. Age had already slowed her down, and cancer had taken away much of her strength. She struggled daily with pain, severe weakness, limited mobility, and loss of appetite. Even sitting up required effort. Even speaking took energy.

As I sat beside her, I noticed how quietly she endured her suffering. There were no complaints, no anger—only tired acceptance. Her eyes spoke more than her words. They carried pain, but also trust. Trust that someone had come not just to see her illness, but to see her.

Her family stayed close, doing everything they could. But caregiving is never easy—especially when resources are limited and guidance is missing. The fear of doing something wrong, the helplessness of watching a loved one suffer, and the emotional exhaustion slowly take their toll. Cancer does not affect one person alone; it changes the life of the entire family.

This is where Romila Palliative Care became a turning point.

Salma Bee began receiving Romila Palliative Care services—care focused on comfort, relief, and dignity. Pain management, symptom control, emotional support, and regular home visits brought visible relief. More importantly, her family no longer felt alone. They had someone to call, someone to guide them, and someone who listened.

Palliative care does not promise a cure—but it promises care till the last moment. It ensures that pain is addressed, fear is acknowledged, and dignity is protected. For patients like Salma Bee, this care meant being able to remain at home, surrounded by familiar faces, instead of suffering silently.

We continued to support Salma Bee and her family—medically, emotionally, and socially. Sometimes support looked like medicines. Sometimes it looked like counselling. And sometimes, it simply meant sitting quietly and holding space.

A few days later, Salma Bee passed away calmly and peacefully, in her home, with her family by her side. She did not die in pain or fear. She left this world with dignity—something every human being deserves.

On this World Cancer Day, the theme “Close the Care Gap” feels deeply personal. The care gap is widest for elderly patients, for people living in crowded communities, and for families who are unaware that palliative care exists. Closing this gap means reaching homes like Salma Bee’s. It means recognising that comfort is a right, not a privilege.

Her story reminds us of a powerful truth: cancer may take away strength, but compassion restores humanity. Even when cure is not possible, care can still bring peace, relief, and hope.

This World Cancer Day, let us remember that the fight against cancer is not only about saving lives—it is also about honouring life, till the very end.