Coping With A Lung Cancer Diagnosis? What Every Indian Patient Needs to Know

News18

19-05-2025

Last Updated:
Lung Cancer in now one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the country
A lung cancer diagnosis depicts one of those moments that divide life in two—Before, and, After. For many Indian patients, the information comes as a personal catastrophe, rather than simply a medical diagnosis. The impact of having your doctor telling you that you have lung cancer, when you were expecting your persistent cough to be asthma, or an allergy, is hard to process, mentally; and even harder to talk about.
Far from being rare, anymore, Lung Cancer in now one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the country. Alarmingly, a growing number of these patients are non-smokers. Air pollution, indoor smoke from cooking, genetic predispositions, and even occupational exposure to harmful substances are contributing to a spike, especially in urban areas, such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Dr. Mallikarjun, Consultant, Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, HCG Cancer Hospital, KR Road Bengaluru shares all you need to know:
When you come face-to-face with a devastating truth, the thing to do is to pause and take a breath—literally. Gather your mental and emotional reserves. Then begin asking the right questions:
• What type of lung cancer is it?
• What stage are we looking at?
• What are the treatment options?
• What kind of support—medical, emotional, financial—will I need?
• Surgery, to remove localized tumours
• Chemotherapy and radiation
• Targeted therapy, for cancers with specific genetic mutations (such as EGFR or ALK)
• Immunotherapy, which leverages the body's own immune system, to fight cancer
Numerous tertiary centres in India now provide Advanced Cancer Care.
The Overlooked Emotional Aftershock
The diagnosis leaves many patients with a sense of grief, guilt, or even shame—particularly if they were smokers. Some withdraw. Others panic. Mental health support is vital, but in India, this reality is insufficiently recognized.
Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances are common, but manageable. Counselling, online or in-person, mindfulness practices, including yoga, meditation, or even joining lung cancer support groups (like Lung Connect India) can curb emotional isolation.
Nutrition and Gut Health: Fuelling the Body to Fight
Nutrition is often neglected during treatment, but it can be a game-changer. Chemo or radiation can induce nausea, weight loss, fatigue, or gut discomfort. A balanced, high-protein, antioxidant-rich Indian diet (with dals, curd, fruits, nuts, and green vegetables) can help the body to cope and recover faster. Fermented foods such as buttermilk and idli can enhance gut health, and support treatment. Small, frequent meals, rather than forced, large ones help to manage low appetite.
Consulting a clinical nutritionist specialized in oncology care is highly recommended.
Side Effects Are Real—and So Is Support
Side effects of treatment, such as hair loss, fatigue, changes in taste or skin tone must be recognized as equally physical and emotional. These, including the smallest discomforts can be effectively managed through open communication with your doctor. Medications and practices exist, to manage almost every symptom. No need to suffer in silence.
The Cost Factor?
Cancer care can be expensive, but many financial aid options exist.
• Ayushman Bharat Yojana offers support to eligible families.
• State government health schemes, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Indian Cancer Society, and other NGOs, also offer cancer aid funding.
Promptly consult the hospital's medical social worker, or your oncologist, about paperwork and applications.
Faith, Family, and Finding New Meaning
Many patients discover a renewed sense of purpose, after diagnosis. Spending more time with family, reconnecting with friends, or returning to a spiritual practice, all illustrate that coping and healing extend beyond medical support. In Indian households, extended family plays a big role, and that support can be both a comfort and a responsibility. Don't hesitate to set boundaries or ask for space, when needed.
The Power of Shared Experience
One of the most powerful ways to heal is to know you're not the only one. Online forums, WhatsApp groups for cancer patients, and hospital-organized meetups are growing in India. Listening to someone else's survival story can profoundly restore hope.
Lung Cancer is not an End—It is a New Chapter
The agony is real, but the internal powerhouse should persist. Recovering from lung cancer is not impossible—and may even be transformational, with optimal Medicare, emotional support and community bonding.
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Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 19, 2025, 07:40 IST
News lifestyle » health-and-fitness Coping With A Lung Cancer Diagnosis? What Every Indian Patient Needs to Know