Meet Kuldeep Goel, Friends of Max (FOM) City Chapter Leader from Chandigarh, and FOM’s Patient Advocate for June 2025.
On a Mission to give back
At FOM, we salute our patient leaders—heroes who, despite their own journeys with CML, stand tall as pillars of strength in our community. It is through their relentless efforts that we continue to build a compassionate, informed and empowered support system for all those living with cancer.
This month, Kuldeep Goel’s story is a compelling example of how receiving the right support at the right time and being a part of a supportive patient group can ignite a deep sense of duty and a heartfelt commitment to give back—offering fellow patients the same support and hope he once received in his own time of need.
Diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in 2003, Kuldeep’s world shifted overnight. But just as uncertainty about the future loomed, hope arrived in the form of a revolutionary new treatment—Glivec, the “magic bullet”—made accessible in India through the efforts of Novartis and The Max Foundation, the global non-profit managing the program. Here he came in touch with FOM. What began as a journey to survival soon became a mission to serve others.
Kuldeep acknowledges the support he received and fondly remembers his first meeting with Viji Venkatesh (“Amma”) at AIIMS Delhi—an encounter he describes as life-changing. He also credits his treating physician, Dr. Pankaj Malhotra, for providing consistent medical guidance and compassionate care throughout his journey.
“FOM came into my life like a god-sent angel,” Kuldeep often shares, recalling the moment that changed everything—not just for his health, but for his life’s purpose.
For the last 18 years now, Kuldeep has remained a dedicated and dependable pillar of the FOM family. As City Chapter Leader in Chandigarh, he has gone above and beyond what is expected to advocate for fellow CML patients—assisting FOM in organising patient meetings and providing emotional support to other patients and their families.
What makes Kuldeep’s contribution even more remarkable is his unwavering commitment, despite the demands of his own profession—he manages a grocery store that he cannot afford to close, not even for a single day. Yet, he consistently dedicates his time and energy to efficiently implement FOM’s at-no-cost diagnostic program across Punjab and Haryana. His proactive efforts ensure that families, including those from the most remote areas, have access to essential monitoring tests. Thanks to his dedication, many patients are able to remain compliant with their doctors’ advice and attend regular follow-ups—crucial steps in effectively managing their condition.
An undergraduate, Kuldeep who started working at the age of 18, still manages his store in Ambala with the same diligence and quiet strength that defines every part of his life. Today, he is a proud father of three—two daughters and a son, now married and all children well-settled—and lives a peaceful life with his wife, a homemaker and his unwavering partner in all things.
Kuldeep Goel’s story is not just about surviving CML- it is about when shared with empathy and purpose, can light the way for others.
His advice to CML patients:
“Be grateful. CML is controllable and manageable with Glivec. If you follow your doctor’s advice and attend your check-ups, you can live a long, fulfilling life. Stay strong—CML can be overcome.”
