Viji Venkatesh invited as a panelist at the Women X Health panel discussion held at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, as part of its flagship event Ujali, organised by The Women’s Commission, on 22 January 2026.

A powerful theme, thoughtfully curated and relevant questions, an excellent moderator, empathetic organisers, a committed team of volunteers, and most importantly a deeply engaged audience of over 50 young college-going adults (women and men) came together to create a meaningful dialogue.

The session featured Dr. Indrani Joshi and Viji Venkatesh, whose medical expertise and lived experiences beautifully complemented each other as they explored what truly impacts women across different stages of life.

The discussion covered a wide spectrum of questions on Breast Cancer Awareness—from medical basics, treatment options, lifestyle and precautions, to gender bias, stigma, fear, emotional and social impact, age-appropriate communication, coping mechanisms for patients and caregivers, healthcare access and policies, urban vs rural realities, national vs international perspectives, Chai for Cancer and the critical need to raise funds for patients and their families. It also laid emphasis on the urgent need to care for caregivers as well. The conversation also highlighted what must be done to build robust and equitable healthcare access for patients and families living with cancer.

Held from 4–6 pm at the MMR (Multi-Media Room), St. Xavier’s College, the session was insightful, engaging, and impactful—an afternoon well spent indeed.

On behalf of FOM and Viji, Thank you Diya Rahul, The Women’s Commission and St Xaviers for making us a part of this very important conversation.