CANCER FOUNDATION OF INDIA
What is CFI
The Cancer Foundation of India (CFI) is a non-profit charity committed to cancer prevention and control since 2002. CFI’s team of professionals is dedicated to making a positive impact on lives through innovative strategies for reducing cancer risk and ensuring early detection. To achieve its objectives, CFI operates at multiple levels, including: informing the public about cancer risks through awareness lectures and social media; training clinicians in early diagnosis; promoting HPV vaccination in young girls to protect against cervical cancer; offering community training on breast self-examination and cervical cancer screening; developing communication materials in multiple Indian languages; advocating for tobacco control and addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and research in cancer prevention. Through these efforts, CFI aims to encourage cancer preventive behaviours and improve health outcomes across communities.
The Foundation focuses on four key operational themes, (i) Cancer Awareness: We disseminate information to improve public awareness about cancer through both print and electronic media, as well as by conducting regular community meetings focused on cancer education; (ii) Research on cancer prevention: We engage in research on cancer prevention, addressing critical topics relevant to our country such as in cancer risk assessment, chemoprevention, cancer vaccines, and new detection methods and tests; (iii) Human Resource Development: We develop human resource in cancer prevention and early detection by organizing workshops, training sessions, and symposia on relevant themes. Additionally, we publish protocols, manuals, and innovative communication materials aimed at medical and paramedical professionals; (iv) Patient Support Services: We endeavour essential support and services to cancer patients through a helpline that offers counseling and clinical advice during and after their treatment.
The Cancer Foundation of India (CFI) is registered under the Registration of Society West Bengal Act XXVI of 1961. It holds a registration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Additionally, the foundation is eligible for tax exemptions for contributions made under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. Since April 2009, CFI has also been recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, for its research and development work.
Foundation has following major themes:
Dissemination of cancer information for improving cancer awareness and education in general public through print, electronic media, by holding regular meetings on cancer awareness and publishing protocols, manuals and innovative communication material on cancer prevention.
Research in cancer prevention through laboratory or population-based studies on topics of critical interest to the country such as epidemiology, chemoprevention, cancer vaccines, new detection methods and tests.
Development of human resource in cancer prevention and early detection by holding workshops, trainings, conference/symposium on topical themes for medical and para-medical professionals.
Service and Support to cancer patients through cancer helpline that provides counseling and clinical advice during and post-treatment status of patients.
Tobacco control through advocacy, surveys, intervention measures, implementation and monitoring of tobacco laws in the country.
CFI has received extramural support and collaboration for its programs / projects from national and international healthcare funding organisations such as IARC (WHO), Lyon, WHO, Geneva, American Cancer Society, USA, Bloomberg Global Initiative, USA and DST and DBT, Min. of Science & Technology, and ICMR, Govt. of India, VHAI, New Delhi and Healis Sekhsaria Inst. Of Public Health, Navi Mumbai. The CFI also works in partnership with state governments in North East states (Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya) and West Bengal, in their cancer prevention initiatives.
The Cancer Foundation of India (CFI) is registered under West Bengal Societies Registration Act XXVI of 1961. It is also registered with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Govt. of India under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 to receive grants / donations from overseas. Donors to CFI are benefited with tax exemption under the provisions of 80 G of Indian Income Tax Act 1961. In April 2009, the CFI received recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO), by DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, and Govt. of India for R&D work in cancer. The Foundation has its own Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) and Research Advisory Committee which ensure strict adherence to ethical norms and maintenance of quality control for all its projects and activities.
CFI is supported by a large number of clinicians, scientists, social workers and health care volunteers committed to a holistic approach to cancer control in the country. The members of CFI and those who actively work on voluntary basis in its projects and programs belong to well-known medical / scientific institutes / hospitals in the country. CFI’s Management Committee is headed by Prof. Maqsood Siddiqi, former Director of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and later that of Bose Institute in Kolkata, Ms. Sutapa Biswas is the Secretary of Management Committee & Executive Director of the organisation.
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Cancer prevention is crucial for India due to the rising incidence of cancer across the country. With over a million new cases diagnosed annually, and a growing aging population, the need for effective prevention strategies is more pressing than ever. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity contribute significantly to the cancer burden. Early detection and education on risk factors can drastically reduce cancer rates and improve outcomes. By prioritizing prevention, India can save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall quality of life for its citizens.
Cancer prevention is crucial for India due to the rising incidence of cancer across the country. With over a million new cases diagnosed annually, and a growing aging population, the need for effective prevention strategies is more pressing than ever. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity contribute significantly to the cancer burden. Early detection and education on risk factors can drastically reduce cancer rates and improve outcomes. By prioritizing prevention, India can save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall quality of life for its citizens.
The Cancer Foundation of India focuses on cancer prevention, addressing three of the most prevalent cancers in the country: cervical cancer, breast cancer in women, and tobacco-related cancers. These cancers account for XXXX cases annually in India. Our work aligns with the Government of India’s mandate under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NP-NCD).
Cervical cancer is on the path to elimination, a crucial goal for India, as the country accounts for 25% of global deaths from this cancer. Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in India, with rising cases making it an urgent area of focus. Tobacco use, in both smoking
and smokeless forms, continues to fuel the increasing burden of lung, oral, and other related cancers.
Since 2004, the Cancer Foundation of India (CFI) has been driving impactful change in cervical cancer prevention. By addressing various aspects of prevention, CFI has played a critical role in shaping global health strategies.
One of its most significant contributions is supporting the reduction of HPV vaccine doses—from three to two, and now to one—through the groundbreaking multicentric study by IARC-WHO. This one dose has the potential to make life-saving vaccines more accessible to millions of women across the globe. This research that continues for over 15 years now has also contributed to the Indian evidence of the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccine. The results of the 15 year study is being compiled to be published soon.
On a national scale, CFI’s strategic advocacy led to Sikkim becoming the first state in India to vaccinate all eligible girls, setting a precedent for other states to follow.
CFI remains committed to driving change by focusing on behavior change communication research, aimed at increasing vaccine uptake across India. Their continued efforts in training over 15,000 specialist physicians across India, on interpersonal communication have strengthened medical societies enhancing the trust between parents and physician. These training programs not only improve healthcare outcomes in India but also serve as best practices for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), amplifying CFI’s social impact on a global scale.
Northeast India has the highest cancer rates in the country, with Mizoram leading in cancer incidence. The region faces unique challenges in cancer control, including a shortage of specialists. From its early years, the CFI has focused on identifying gaps in public health, particularly in cancer prevention. CFI began its work in the Northeast in 2005, with a mission to build the capacity of government specialists in cervical cancer prevention.
A major success has been CFI’s advocacy in Sikkim, which became a leader in state-level HPV vaccination. This collaboration with the Sikkim government began in 2009-2011, when 500 girls were vaccinated, setting the stage for future public health efforts.
In Mizoram, CFI has been a key partner since 2007, working with the state government to build local evidence on HPV vaccination, develop breast clinics, and train physicians on cancer prevention. These initiatives aim to integrate cancer prevention into public health strategies, especially in a state with limited facilities to treat advanced cancers.
CFI’s work extends to other northeastern states, including Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya, where it has focused on establishing breast clinics, raising community awareness, and collaborating with state governments on cancer prevention frameworks. Recently, CFI has worked to strengthen cancer screening services in Mizoram and Meghalaya as part of the NP-NCD screening program, further supporting early detection and prevention.