How Binaytara Cancer Center Brought Relief To One Madhesh Family

Cancer Care Challenges and Long Journeys for Treatment

Being diagnosed with cancer is already a heavy burden. Having to cross borders and travel hundreds of miles for treatment only adds to that weight—physically, emotionally, and financially.

A son-in-law and caregiver of a patient at Binaytara Cancer Center, Mr. Sanjiv Kumar Mishra, shared, “When my mother-in-law, Premkala Jha, was diagnosed with periampullary adenocarcinoma [a cancer that originates in a region where the bile and pancreatic ducts enter the small intestine], we had no choice but to travel long distances, even for basic chemotherapy sessions. From our village in Mahottari to Kathmandu, and later to PGIMER, Chandigarh in India for surgery, every step of this journey came with physical, emotional, and financial strain. These frequent and costly travels could have been avoided if such services were available locally.”

Mahottari is about a 6-hour drive from Kathmandu, the nearest cancer center for patients in Madhesh. Chandigarh is located in India, about 870 miles from Mahottari, Nepal.

This is the story of a patient whose life changed after finding care at the Binaytara Cancer Center (BTCC) in Janakpur, Nepal. The Madhesh Province is home to over six million people, and for years, access to cancer care in this region has been severely limited. The absence of a comprehensive cancer hospital has forced countless families, like Premkala Jha’s, to travel long distances just to receive basic treatment.

Premkala began her chemotherapy at Bir Hospital in Kathmandu, hundreds of miles from home. She received three cycles there before she was recommended to seek care at BTCC in Janakpur. That referral became a turning point.

Finding Hope and Affordable Cancer Care at BTCC

Today, Premkala is receiving her chemotherapy just a short walk from home. She is undergoing the GEMOX regimen (Gemcitabine + Oxaliplatin), with 12 cycles planned in total. Each treatment is paired with detailed consultations, regular monitoring, and a compassionate care team that communicates in her native language. Now living with her daughter in Janakpur, Premkala walks just 20 minutes to reach BTCC, a stark contrast to the exhausting, expensive journeys that once defined her care.

Dr. Bablu Yadav, medical officer at BTCC, and Mr. Mishra discussing Premkala’s treatment plan.

Reflecting on the financial toll of seeking cancer treatment, Mr. Mishra said, “We have spent over 1.5 million NPR (about 10,700 USD) during this entire journey, and had we known about BTCC earlier, a large part of that could have been saved.” Filled with gratitude, he added, “We are deeply thankful to the entire Binaytara team. Their affordable pricing, cooperative staff, and patient-first approach were remarkable. We genuinely wish this organization continues to grow. For us, it is not just a hospital, it is a lifeline for thousands of families like ours in Madhesh and beyond.”

Our hospital offers more than just chemotherapy. From histopathology labs to ICU, NICU, oncologic surgeries, and general medical services, it is one of the few places in Madhesh providing basic cancer care at a minimal cost. Since 2018, Binaytara has been running this 25-bed cancer hospital in Madhesh Province, serving over 1,700 local patients in Southern Nepal.

Expanding Access With a 200-Bed Comprehensive Cancer Hospital

Recognizing the need for more comprehensive services and a greater impact, we are building a new, state-of-the-art 200-bed cancer hospital just a few miles from our current center. This expansion will bring advanced, comprehensive cancer care to an underserved region.

The Jha family echoed this urgent need when they shared with our cancer center team, “We sincerely hope that Binaytara continues to expand its services, especially radiotherapy and other advanced oncology care.”

Stories like Premkala Jha’s drive the mission of Binaytara to eliminate cancer and healthcare disparities in the U.S. and globally. To continue supporting patients like her, we are embarking on a monumental project: the construction of a 200-bed comprehensive cancer hospital in Janakpur. This facility will bring affordable, high-quality care to patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances just to receive treatment.

The hospital will be built in phases, starting with a Radiation Oncology Center that will provide critical services like linear accelerators and brachytherapy systems, treatment infrastructures that are currently unavailable in the region. With your support, we can ensure that people from Madhesh no longer have to leave their homes and communities just to access life-saving treatment.