The Backbone of Cancer Control: an Interactive Tribute to Nurses

Nurses are the backbone of cancer control: advancing prevention, early detection, patient education, and compassionate care in communities around the world. As National Cancer Control Month transitions into National Nurses Month, Binaytara honors the nurses and health professionals who help patients heal, regain confidence, and navigate cancer care with dignity. As part of this tribute, we invite you to share your gratitude on our interactive note board, and read messages from others whose lives have been touched by exceptional care: https://recocards.com/board/thank-you-nurse-145591475050

National Cancer Control Month and National Nurses Month: More Overlap Than You Think

April is National Cancer Control Month, a time to highlight prevention, early detection, and improving cancer outcomes worldwide. In our email newsletter, we’ve been reflecting on what that means to us. This year, Binaytara’s global oncology programs made meaningful progress—from educating students in Nepal to break cancer stigma, to building trusted, community-based care through local volunteers. Beyond Nepal, Project Naija began bringing critical cancer care tools to a Nigerian hospital, supporting hundreds of patients each month.

Now, we’re looking ahead. May is National Nurses Month—so as National Cancer Control Month comes to a close, there’s no better time to highlight the unsung heroes of cancer prevention. Nurses play a critical role in prevention across all levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary) by educating patients, promoting healthy lifestyles, conducting screenings, and managing chronic conditions. They act as catalysts for health improvement through direct patient care, infection control, and community-based health promotion initiatives. In the US, five million nurses do this steady and vital work every day.

The Role of Nurses in Global Oncology

Healthcare is a rewarding and demanding field. In global oncology, where the need is so great and disparities in healthcare access are so glaring, both the demand and the reward are magnified tenfold. Judy Delismon, Oncology Nurse Educator and Binaytara Global Oncology Advisory Board Member, knows this all too well. Judy is instrumental in providing virtual training sessions for nurses at our clinic Nepal, with plans to begin educating nurses at our partner hospital in Nigeria soon.

At the Binaytara Health Clinic in Janakpur, Nepal, we took it as a given—when you invest in your nurses, your whole practice flourishes. We sent our Clinic nurse Bikesh Sah to receive specialized training in GI Surgery and Ostomy Care (a complication of certain cancers) at a top hospital in India in 2025.

Bikesh Sah putting his specialized training in GI surgery and ostomy care into action

“After my training in Kolkata, I realized how vital proper ostomy care is for patients’ confidence and quality of life,” Bikesh said. “Here, I not only provide clinical support but also raise awareness on how to manage ostomy bags, keep the stoma region clean, and live healthily. Seeing patients regain dignity and self-assurance despite their challenges is the most meaningful part of my work.”

Bikesh has grown into a talented healthcare professional and a tireless patient advocate. Memorably, he recalls caring for a 20-year-old female patient with cancer. He recognized that cancer impacts patients’ whole lives, not just their bodies; so in addition to treating her disease, Bikesh helped ensure she had the support she needed to re-enter and finally finish high school.

Bikesh is not an exception. The rest of the nursing team consistently go above and beyond in their care—in Nepal, in Nigeria, and closer to home in the United States.

A Tribute to the Nurses Who Helped and Healed You

That’s why we wanted to pay tribute as we head into May, National Nurses Month. It’s the perfect time to reflect on those nurses or health professionals who have walked with you in your health journey. Click here to share words of gratitude—we’ll collect responses into an interactive, real-time tribute. Plus, take a moment to read about the health professionals who have impacted others’ lives and loved ones in a positive way.

Write a message to show your gratitude to nurses and health professionals: https://recocards.com/board/thank-you-nurse-145591475050