A Patients’ Perspective on the Chennai Meeting- Saravanan Shanmugan

A CML and GIST Patient Support Group Meeting was held on 31 October 2026 in Chennai at Adyar Cancer Institute bringing together over 70 patients and their caregivers.

it was also attended by medical oncologists, Max team members and other FOM Trustees and City Chapter Leaders including Saravanan Shanmugan.

Following the meeting we asked Saravanan, one of FOM’s senior City Chapter Leaders from Chennai and an active participant of FOM for over 20 years to share his thoughts:

1. How do these gatherings impact individuals, and what emotions surface when connecting with the FOM Community?

These meetings give an opportunity to patients to meet with other patients and their families undergoing a similar diagnosis. To share their experience and learn from others too. It ultimately makes them feel that they are not alone, and that they are safe and secure when they join and become a part of the FOM community.

2.      Now it has been more than 20 years since we have been doing patient support group meetings, how do you think the meetings have evolved, what are the new changes in the discussions and workshops that you are seeing?

Over the last 20 years the meetings organised by FOM have been held successfully and effectively. The medical panel discussion held with the doctors including leading oncologists are very well received by the patients and their caregivers. It provides patients a chance to ask any question related to their CML management in a safe and secure setting. The doctors on their part always patiently answer their questions. It helps patients to feel recharged and reassured to manage their diagnosis effectively.

3.      What would you like to see in future meetings?

Strong planning is needed to make patients who come to the FOM Meeting active players in their area. There is a strong need to train them as Patient Advocates. We should plan sessions during the meeting along with the workshops to help build skills which will help them guide newly diagnosed patients in their areas. Provide the support that they received at the time of their diagnosis.

4.      In your experience with Support Group meetings, can you share a specific instance where you witnessed a notable impact or positive outcome for a patient?

In spite of the underlying CML diagnosis, shared by all the attending patients and their families, when they come to the meeting they all happily feel like they have returned to their good old lives. Their cancer journey looks perfectly normal to them. Of course they are side effects and other challenges which come up with long term treatment, but when they hear others having the same experiences they realise it is common to all and they are not alone. This chance to share and learn from one another, gives them renewed hope and energy to move ahead.