Shape this World to Heart’s Concept

Cancer Care

Four-fifths of what Achaani deploys goes here: $128,653 between 2022 and 2025. One partner, five projects, and a single rule for who gets help — the family cannot pay.

The partner

All of our cancer work runs through the CanCare Foundation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and its sister organization, the Cancer Research and Relief Trust. They have been at this since 2010 and 2008 respectively: a palliative-care unit at VHS Hospital accredited by the European Society for Medical Oncology, day-care chemotherapy units at two hospitals, rural screening camps twice a month, and more than 1,200 patients supported over the years.

When a patient needs help, CanCare's medical social worker visits the family and looks at income, employment, housing, and dependents. Only patients with a clear financial constraint are taken on. Achaani funds the work; CanCare's doctors, nurses, and social workers do it. We receive itemized bills and send the money in measured tranches.

The five projects

Since January 2022 · with CanCare Foundation · ~$11,300 deployed

1 · The venous port project

Chemotherapy is hard on veins. A venous port — a small device placed under the skin — makes months of treatment safer and less painful. A port costs more than many families earn in a month, so patients without one endure repeated, failing IV lines.

This was Achaani's first project. Since 2022, our funding has helped CanCare place ports for roughly 130 patients — the port itself, the Huber needle, operating-theatre charges, and pharmacy costs; fully free for some patients, partially supported for others. The original grant is fully spent and accounted for; a renewal is under discussion.

The exact patient count is being finalized with CanCare's records and will be published on The Numbers page.

Since 2022 · with CanCare Foundation

2 · The lymphoma treatment project

Hodgkin's lymphoma in children is one of oncology's better stories — with full treatment, most children recover. Without it, few do. The difference is money and months of consistency.

This project funds the full course of treatment for children whose families cannot afford it. It began alongside the port project in 2022, with treatment bills tracked case by case. Counts are published as treatments complete, never names.

September 2024 – May 2025 · ₹2,50,000 (~$3,000) · complete

3 · Physician assistant training

Cancer care does not scale through doctors alone. CanCare runs a Virtual Resource Centre that monitors patients remotely between hospital visits — and it needed trained hands.

Achaani funded a training module proposed by Dr. Ramanan: stipends for young women trained over four months in remote digital monitoring of patient health. The funding is fully used, and every trainee was subsequently absorbed into a full-time role at the Centre. Trained people stay; that was the point.

Since January 2024 · a physician donor's gift · $125,000, disbursed in tranches

4 · General treatment support — a physician donor's fund

A physician donor gave Achaani $125,000 with a simple instruction: get it to CanCare's patients. We pass it through completely, in tranches of roughly ₹21 lakh, released as the previous tranche is spent and accounted for. In November 2025 alone, ₹15,25,003 went to treatment, investigations, and patient-care costs. The final tranche — $32,129.28 — was remitted in April 2026 and confirmed received.

This is what most of the money does: the unphotogenic middle of cancer care. Scans, drugs, hospital days, bus fare.

Since January 2026 · a donor-directed gift · $11,500 (~₹10,00,000)

5 · Treatment for select deserving cases — a donor-directed fund

A donor-directed gift funds complete blood-cancer treatment for three patients chosen by CanCare's selection process. As of March 2026: one adult has completed treatment; one child has finished the induction phase with five to six months of treatment ahead; one adult is mid-treatment. ₹8,88,183 of the budget has been used.

The donor receives a written report every month — what was spent, on what, and how each course of treatment is going. This is how we treat every directed donation.

And before treatment: prevention

Alongside treatment, we fund free online yoga and meditation classes led by Dr. Sashi of the Yoga and Meditation Center, San Diego — built for elders and open to anyone, including those in treatment or recovery ($10,000 in 2025). CanCare's rural screening camps, which we support through the general fund, catch cancers while they are still treatable. The cheapest cancer to treat is the one found early.

Cancer-care funds by year

2023 is net of $8,000 in returned wires. 2025 includes $10,000 for the prevention and wellness program. Full ledger and methodology on The Numbers.

If you or your family need help

We help patients in Tamil Nadu and beyond arrange second opinions, reach trusted oncologists, and find organizations offering free or subsidized treatment. There is no charge, and what you tell us stays private. Tell us a little about your situation and we will get in touch.