Women as the backbone of cancer care: 'Their first questions are often about their children, sisters or other relatives'

Cancer care is often seen through the lens of doctors and treatments, but in reality, women are frequently the unseen backbone holding families together through the journey. As we delved into the subject, we sat for an insightful discussion with Dr Aakriti Aggarwal, Group Head – Medical Genetics & Genetic Counselling, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon.

She weighed in on how women have been fundamentally standing as a strong pillar in cancer care.“As a cancer genetic counsellor, I meet many women who come into the clinic carrying not just their own concerns, but the medical history of entire families. They remember which aunt had breast cancer, which grandmother had ovarian cancer, and who in the family was diagnosed at a young age. These details are incredibly important in cancer genetics because they help us identify families who may carry inherited cancer risks,” said Dr Aakriti Aggarwal.

She continued, “What stands out is that women rarely come thinking only about themselves. Their first questions are often about their children, sisters or other relatives who may also be at risk. In that moment, they become powerful advocates for prevention, helping families understand the role of genetic testing, early screening and risk-reducing strategies.”Dr Aakriti Aggarwal further highlighted that women’s role as caregivers is more than what meets the eye.

“Beyond the clinic, women are also very often the caregivers who quietly coordinate care during cancer treatment. I have seen daughters managing appointments for parents, wives supporting partners through therapy and even women undergoing treatment themselves who continue to worry about everyone else first.

”“This Women’s Day, it is important to recognise that women are not only patients in the cancer journey, but they are also caregivers, decision-makers and often the bridge between families and life-saving advances in cancer genetics and early detection,” concluded Dr Aggarwal.