Chennai, June 10: Geri Care, India’s pioneer in integrated eldercare, commemorated National Cancer Survivors Day with a special gathering in the Geri Care Skilled Nursing Facility, Velachery, Chennai that brought together cancer survivors, caregivers, families, clinicians and healthcare teams for an evening centred on resilience, shared experiences and holistic healing.
The gathering featured a special address by the fierce cancer advocate, & author Ms. Viji Venkatesh, whose decades of work in cancer awareness, counselling and patient support have impacted thousands of individuals and families across India and internationally. During the event, she spoke about the importance of emotional resilience, supporting communities and compassionate caregiving in helping patients navigate life during and beyond cancer.
The event focused on recognizing the journeys of individuals living with and beyond cancer, while also acknowledging the role played by caregivers, families and medical professionals who support them through treatment and recovery.
According to a recent study, Cancer cases in the elderly are projected to rise by 75%, from over 6.3 lakh cases in 2011 to more than 11 lakh by 2026. This trend underscores the urgent need for strengthening geriatric oncology care, enhancing early detection and screening, and building targeted awareness to address the growing healthcare needs of India’s ageing population.
Dr. Rejiv Rajendranath, Clinical Lead Geriatric Oncology, said,
“Every cancer journey is deeply personal, especially for older adults who often face additional health and emotional challenges during treatment and recovery. Survivorship is not only about overcoming disease, but also about restoring confidence, independence and quality of life. At Geri Care, our focus has always been to provide integrated, age-sensitive oncology care that supports patients and families at every step from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation, survivorship and beyond.”
The Chief Guest, Ms. Viji Venkatesh, cancer advocate & author said,
“Over the years, I have seen that cancer care is sustained not only by medicine, but by compassion, community and the reassurance that no patient has to walk the journey alone. What Geri Care is doing through their geriatric oncology approach is meaningful because it places equal emphasis on dignity, quality of life and compassionate care. Bringing survivors, caregivers and clinicians together also reinforces the importance of hope and human connection in healing.”
The Geri Care Geriatric Oncology Centres at Adyar, Adambakkam and Velachery represent a first-of-its-kind integrated model dedicated exclusively to the cancer care needs of older adults. Led by a multidisciplinary team of geriatricians, medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, the centres combine age-specific cancer treatment with comprehensive geriatric assessment to optimise outcomes while preserving function, independence and quality of life. Beyond chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, the programme encompasses cancer screening and prevention, tobacco and de-addiction services, psycho-oncology, nutrition, rehabilitation, pain and palliative care, home care, skilled nursing, survivorship support and caregiver counselling—offering a seamless continuum of care from diagnosis through recovery and life beyond cancer. This holistic approach ensures that every older adult receives personalised treatment tailored not just to the disease, but to the unique challenges of ageing.
As cancer incidence continues to rise among the elderly population, the gathering also highlighted the growing importance of geriatric oncology, an approach that considers not just the disease, but the overall health, functional ability and quality of life of senior patients.
Over the years, Geri Care has supported more than 5,000 cancer journeys among older adults through its integrated geriatric care model. They continue to advocate for a more human-centred approach to eldercare and geriatric oncology in India, with a focus on holistic recovery, dignity and quality of life.