The Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), a unit of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), successfully organised the 1st International Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Summit as part of OTCAN REHAB 2026 at its Kharghar campus. This initiative marks a major step towards advancing multidisciplinary cancer care.
The summit, inaugurated by Navin Khattry, Deputy Director, CRC-ACTREC, brought together leading experts, clinicians, and healthcare professionals to deliberate on comprehensive rehabilitation strategies for breast cancer patients.
Delegates across India addressed the summit
In his welcome address, Jagmohan Lal Meena, Organising Secretary and In-charge of the Department of Occupational Therapy at ACTREC, emphasised the need for a holistic and collaborative approach in improving patient outcomes.
The event was further enriched by insights from John Boyages, Senior Oncologist and Founding Director of ALERT, Australia, who highlighted global best practices in breast cancer rehabilitation.
The hybrid-format summit witnessed participation from 238 delegates across India and countries including the UAE, UK, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Attendees comprised oncologists, clinical pharmacologists, occupational therapists, faculty, and students engaged in cancer rehabilitation.
Experts at the summit discussed the importance of multidisciplinary teams in enhancing functional recovery and quality of life for breast cancer survivors. The scientific programme featured eminent national and international faculty, including Dileep R. Hoysal and Anbarasan Sekar, and specialists from the United States such as Manisha Agarwal, Shaloo Choudhary, and Geeta Santosh Nath.
The in-house faculty from Tata Memorial Centre, including Savita Goswami, Sarika Mahajan, and Mohua Chatterjee, also contributed significantly, alongside distinguished occupational therapy experts like Sunita Koutarapu and Shailaja Jayavant.
First international summit in Asia exclusively for breast cancer awareness
Being among the first international summits in Asia dedicated exclusively to breast cancer rehabilitation, the event provided a vital platform for knowledge exchange and showcased emerging innovations in patient care. Participants lauded the initiative, noting its role in strengthening rehabilitation services and improving long-term outcomes for patients.
The organisers expressed gratitude to Sudeep Gupta, Pankaj Chaturvedi, and other senior leadership for their continued support in making the summit a success.
