Lessons From an Immersion Experience in Southern India

Approximately 2.4 million people in India are living with cancer, and more than 1 million new cancer diagnoses are made annually, often in advanced stages of disease. An estimated 80% of patients with advanced cancer will develop significant pain resulting in the need to increase access to appropriate palliative care services across the country, including a priority on pain and symptom management. This article describes the history and status of palliative care across India, with an emphasis on the efforts made in the southern state of Kerala to engage community volunteers in the care of patients with chronic serious illness. Lessons learned from a palliative care nurse fellow's 2-week immersion in southern India are shared.