South Asia

06 November 2019 By Meg Mager In Advocacy Diagnostics Max Access Solutions South Asia Uncategorized

Honoring our Lung Cancer Patients During Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM)

In April of 2015, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, known as the Gorkha earthquake, devastated Nepal, crumbling multi-story buildings in its capital, Kathmandu. In the midst of the aftermath, Nabin, a 41-year-old pharmacist living in a village outside of Kathmandu, struggled to find a remedy for a persistent fever and cough. [caption id="attachment_31063" align="alignleft" width="228"] Nabin (right) with his physician, Dr. Gyan Kayastha at Patan Hospital Kathmandu.[/caption] Roads were covered with rubble, and due to collapsed homes many of the city’s residents were sleeping on the streets in tents; transportation was not an easy feat. Despite the harsh conditions, Nabin was able to visit...

31 May 2018 By Winona Rennick In Access to Treatment and Support Chai for Cancer Fundraising South Asia

Chai for Cancer USA: Raise a Cup Together

Launched in 2015, Chai for Cancer USA raises funds to provide treatment access for patients in India. The campaign’s inspiration and namesake come from our own Region Head for South Asia, Viji Venkatesh, who started the original Chai for Cancer campaign in India one year earlier. For the past three years, supporters across the United States and in Canada have volunteered to host Chai Adda (tea parties) fundraisers at their homes, or have raised a cup virtually by donating online. No matter how people have gotten involved, their efforts have all contributed much-needed support to people in India facing a cancer diagnosis. Pramod George...

17 May 2018 By Viji Venkatesh In Diagnostics South Asia Spot On CML

‘Spot On CML’ Comes to Nepal

Viji Venkatesh visits Kabitha, the very first patient in Nepal to be tested through our Spot On CML collaboration with Fred Hutch. Since her test, 35 patients have gained diagnostic testing through the Spot On CML initiative!...

02 June 2017 By Shalini Subramanian In Advocacy Chai for Cancer South Asia

A Chance Encounter

Suddenly, I noticed a man sitting just opposite to me staring at me. I thought he was annoyed at my loud voice. so I reduced my volume and kept on talking with my friend. While explaining, my eyes went towards the man. Again I noticed he was keenly listening to our conversation. Finally the stop came! I got down with my friend and took 10 steps. I heard a voice behind me calling “Madam, madam!”...

18 May 2017 By Viji Venkatesh In Access to Treatment and Support Chai for Cancer South Asia

The Brave Fisherwoman: In Remembrance of Hira Goma

In all these years, through all of the struggle and emotional upheaval of her diagnosis, Hira remained her active and busy self. She never missed her daily routine of the wharf and the bazaar, nor did she let her work and routine come in the way of her managing her CML....

05 May 2017 By Winona Rennick In Access to Treatment and Support Chai for Cancer South Asia USA

Take the Chai Five challenge to support cancer survivors in India!

Take the Chai Five challenge to raise awareness of the needs of cancer survivors while raising funds for their support! What is “Chai Five”? The Chai Five is a list of five simple actions you can take to support people in India who are facing a cancer diagnosis....

10 March 2017 By Beena Narayanan In Advocacy South Asia

Past Due

The anniversary of someone's death is always difficult. Just as we recently remembered Max's passing, we also hold the others who have passed too soon. Below, Beena shares a remembrance of our dear Jaya, who was a committed team member and played that role of a patient advocate amazingly well until she so sadly lost her battle with cancer on 23rd Feb 2016. We at The Max Foundation remember her as one of the bravest contributors to our community and as an exemplar of the spirit of Max. I was cleaning up folders on my laptop when I chanced upon the following word document....

03 February 2017 By Winona Rennick In Advocacy Max Global Experience South Asia

Announcing the Max Global Experience – Mt. Kinabalu!

Join us this summer in Malaysia! In July 2017, a team of partners, cancer survivors, and friends like you will join us from the USA, Malaysia, and beyond to embark on an adventure with a common goal: raising funds to carry out our work supporting cancer patients in Malaysia....

23 December 2016 By The Maximize Life Blog In Advocacy Rising Sun South Asia

Announcing the 2016 Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award!

Each year, The Max Foundation chooses a colleague to receive our Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award, honoring a member of our global team who has done something especially remarkable that year. On December 17th, we were delighted to present this year's Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award to Viji Venkatesh, Region Head for South Asia, for her tireless dedication to the patients she serves....

15 December 2016 By The Max Foundation In Education and Training South Asia

Researching CML Patients in India

A new study in Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health features the Glivec®Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) and reveals that "chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) is diagnosed at an earlier age in poorer populations than in more affluent populations." The study focused on India's CML population to investigate other possible contributors to early age at onset. The team of authors include our very own South Asia Region Head Viji Venkatesh, and Max CEO Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, as well as Paul H. Levine, Kunal Ajmera, Brenna O’Neill, Heather J. Hoffman. The study is only available to the public for a limited time so if you know a physician...