Cancer rehabilitation in India: Current status, scope, and future perspectives

doi:10.5306/wjco.v16.i10.110531

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Oct 24, 2025 (publication date) through Oct 27, 2025

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World Journal of Clinical Oncology

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2218-4333

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World J Clin Oncol. Oct 24, 2025; 16(10): 110531
Published online Oct 24, 2025. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i10.110531

Cancer rehabilitation in India: Current status, scope, and future perspectives

Raktim Swarnakar, Shiv Lal Yadav

Raktim Swarnakar, Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar Campus, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, Delhi, India

Shiv Lal Yadav, Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, Delhi, India

Author contributions: Swarnakar R contributed to conception and design; Swarnakar R and Yadav SL contributed to literature search and writing; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.

Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Corresponding author: Raktim Swarnakar, MD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar Campus, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, Delhi, India. raktimswarnakar@hotmail.com

Received: June 9, 2025
Revised: June 24, 2025
Accepted: September 17, 2025
Published online: October 24, 2025
Processing time: 137 Days and 23.5 Hours

Abstract

Cancer rehabilitation is a critical component of comprehensive cancer care, aiming to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors by addressing physical, psychological, and social challenges following treatment. In India, with rising cancer incidence and a growing survivor population, the need for effective rehabilitation services is more pronounced than ever. However, despite significant progress in cancer treatment, rehabilitation remains an underdeveloped and underutilized area of care in the country. This mini-review explores the current status of cancer rehabilitation in India, highlighting existing gaps in healthcare infrastructure, access, and awareness. It examines the scope of rehabilitation services-including physical therapy, psychosocial support, palliative care, and vocational rehabilitation-and identifies regional variations in service availability. Furthermore, the mini-review outlines challenges faced by healthcare providers, such as a shortage of trained professionals, limited funding, and cultural stigmas surrounding cancer. Future perspectives on cancer rehabilitation in India emphasize the need for policy reforms, integration of rehabilitation into national cancer care programs, and promotion of multidisciplinary care teams. The article concludes with recommendations for expanding cancer rehabilitation services to meet the evolving needs of survivors and to enhance their long-term well-being in India.

Keywords: Cancer rehabilitation; Cancer; Rehabilitation; India; Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Core Tip: Cancer rehabilitation remains an essential yet under-recognized component of oncology care in India. With a rising number of cancer survivors, there is a growing need to address the complex physical, psychological, and social challenges they face after treatment. This mini-review identifies critical gaps in infrastructure, access, and specialized workforce, while outlining the potential of multidisciplinary rehabilitation services. It underscores the importance of policy integration, awareness, and capacity building to establish cancer rehabilitation as a standardized element of survivorship care nationwide.