Vandana Mahajan is a compassionate palliative-care counsellor, cancer survivor, patient advocate, and lead counsellor with the Lung Connect India Foundation—a Mumbai-based non-profit support and advocacy group dedicated to empowering lung cancer patients and their families across India through education, emotional support, and community engagement. In her role, she provides psychosocial and emotional support to individuals affected by lung cancer, guiding patients and caregivers through complex treatment journeys, addressing stigma, and helping them navigate the practical and emotional challenges of living with cancer.

Vandana brings lived experience as a cancer survivor to her counselling work, enabling her to connect deeply with patients, share insights from her own journey, and offer empathetic, patient-centered support. She voluntarily engages with Lung Connect’s support group meetings, advocacy activities, and educational initiatives, contributing to outreach that simplifies information on diagnosis, treatment options, and coping strategies for diverse patient populations.

Before her current role, she also served as a volunteer palliative care counsellor with Cope with Cancer-Madat Trust and worked with the Thoracic Disease Management Group at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, supporting cancer patients and caregivers through counselling and holistic care activities. Her work emphasizes dignity, psychological resilience, and quality of life for those affected by serious illness.

In recognition of her advocacy and support efforts, Vandana has been felicitated by the President of India and other organizations for her contributions to cancer care and patient advocacy.

Her ongoing mission is to be a voice and source of strength for cancer patients and families, reducing isolation, stigma, and fear through compassionate counselling and community support that helps individuals live with purpose and resilience.