“After attending the ECHO program, I now understand the risk factors, preventive measures, and correct methods for self-examination. When a woman recently asked me how to examine herself, I was able to explain every step clearly. Her gratitude reminded me why this knowledge matters.”- Manisha Saini, Public Health Nursing Officer, Chief District Medical Officer, Central District.
When it comes to treatment of women’s cancer, especially breast and cervical cancer, the knowledge, support and most importantly the empathy of frontline workers goes a long way in any woman's journey through cancer.
Breast and cervical cancer are among the leading cancers affecting women in India, accounting for 26.6% and 17.7% of cases respectively [1]. Yet, many women remain unaware of early warning signs, self-examination, and timely care.
What is striking is that breast and cervical cancer are largely preventable or can be treated successfully if detected early. Dr. Latha Venkatesan, Professor-cum-Principal at the College of Nursing, AIIMS, New Delhi, shares, “These two cancers are preventable, and if detected at a very early stage, the survival rate of these cancers is quite good.”
From Awareness and Training to Early Action
In India, awareness and knowledge around breast and cervical cancer remain limited. These cancers often take a back seat due to social stigma, misconceptions, and familial responsibilities, all of which delay timely treatment for women. Dr. Uma Shankar, Tutor, College of Nursing, AIIMS New Delhi, explains, “The first major challenge in breast and cervical cancer is the lack of awareness in the community. Many people are not aware of the signs and symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures. Generally, women tend to hide their illness and seek healthcare at a very late stage.” He adds, “If breast or cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the prognosis is usually very good. However, when it is diagnosed at a later stage, the prognosis becomes poor.”
This points to the urgent need for a strong community-based awareness and support system that educates women on early signs, offers sustained support, and ensures timely access to treatment. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, play a key role in this process by bridging gaps in awareness, and helping patients overcome stigma. Through education, counseling, and timely referrals, nurses can play a significant role in early detection.
Dr. Uma Shankar shares, “With proper training, nurses can support early diagnosis, help educate the community, and contribute significantly to strengthening the healthcare system by ensuring timely referral and treatment.” Similarly, Dr. Latha Venkatesan emphasizes, “As nurses, we need to be aware of the prevalence of these two cancers and the measures that can be implemented at various levels to prevent breast and cervical cancer.”
How the ECHO Model Empowers Nurses
Through ECHO India’s Capacity Building Program for nursing professionals in breast and cervical cancer, nurses gain structured and in-depth knowledge on recognising early signs, referral, treatment pathways, and patient counseling.
The ECHO model’s virtual hub-and-spoke tele-mentoring provides a platform where experts guide nurses through case-based learning. Each session allows nurses to present real cases in front of the expert team and receive real-time feedback. Sharing cases and experiences encourages participants to learn together, contributing to collective understanding.
Dr. Latha expressed, “Case-based learning is very important, and this is exactly what is facilitated through the ECHO-based capacity-building program.” She added, “Participants get an opportunity to learn the latest concepts and updated methods of prevention and screening. Experiential learning helps nurses develop focused attention towards preventing breast and cervical cancer.”
Himanshi, Nursing Officer, Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital, expressed, “During case presentations, every participant gets an opportunity to present, helping us build valuable case presentation skills. As nurses, such opportunities are rare; they were usually limited to nursing school, but ECHO has now provided us with that platform.”
Nurses Making a Difference
Expert guidance, peer learning, and case-based discussions have helped nurses gain confidence in supporting women with breast and cervical cancer, directly increasing their impact on patient care.
Sharon Rose, Nursing Officer at Dr. RML Hospital is a pediatric nurse who rarely dealt with breast or cervical cancer cases but often encountered mothers showing signs that required attention. She shared, “I have gained a deeper understanding of risk factors, early symptoms, and screening methods for breast and cervical cancer. I now feel more confident in educating mothers and caregivers during hospital visits about preventive care, self-examination, and the importance of regular screening.”
Similarly, Bhawna, Nursing Officer, Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital, also reported increased confidence in her ability to support women, “During the ECHO sessions, we were provided with case histories, which helped me a lot in OPD practice. We learned about the types of patients who come in, the problems they have, and the investigations that need to be done”.
Behind this confidence lies the program’s structured learning. Himanshi shared, “Each session focused on a particular topic: one day on prevention and screening, another on medical management, and another on surgical treatment. Diving into multiple aspects of breast and cervical cancer has helped me build a comprehensive understanding and apply the knowledge more confidently in practice.”
Nurses Equipped to Lead, Transforming Cancer Care
A platform to learn, share, and collaborate enables nurses to make a far greater impact. Through the ECHO sessions, nurses have experienced tangible improvements in their skills, reflected clearly in their professional practice. The program’s strength also lies in its virtual, hub-and-spoke learning model, which allows nurses to access updated knowledge and expert guidance without the need to travel.
Dr. Uma Shankar shared, “The ECHO model is especially helpful for nurses who have busy schedules and may not be able to attend in-person training programs. Through this model, nurses can learn from the comfort of their workplace or home.”
Each nurse empowered with knowledge can directly impact women’s lives by recognizing early signs, breaking stigma through awareness, and guiding patients toward timely care. Strengthening nurses on the frontline ultimately strengthens the entire system of care, ensuring that cancers are detected early and treated effectively.
[1] https://gco.iarc.who.int/today/en/dataviz/pie?mode=cancer&types=0&sexes=2&populations=356