Friends of Max

Friends of Max Friends of Max is a Support Group for individuals impacted directly/indirectly by CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) and GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor)

Calling for SupportFact One: Education is every child’s birthright Fact Two: When cancer strikes a child’s education is ...
12/08/2026

Calling for Support

Fact One: Education is every child’s birthright

Fact Two: When cancer strikes a child’s education is often the first need to be compromised under rising financial pressure

Fact Three: Project Shiksha helps to bridge this gap, ensuring no cancer affected family has to choose between treatment and a child’s education

Your support can help us make a lasting difference.

https://friendsofmax.info/donate-2/
Donate to Project Shiksha and help provide financial aid to patients towards their schooling needs.

25 Years of TKI and 25 Years of Friends of MaxTwo transformative journeys. One shared mission.We are very proud to bring...
12/08/2026

25 Years of TKI and 25 Years of Friends of Max
Two transformative journeys. One shared mission.

We are very proud to bring this special edition of the Friends of Max newsletter to you. It celebrates an important milestone in the journey of CML and GIST support.

This edition is a tribute to all our partners who for the last 25 years have been working hard (and continue to do so), to ensure no patient living with CML or GIST should live a diminished or compromised life or face this journey alone.

https://friendsofmax.info/home/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/N39_FOM.pdf

Come be a part of this celebration!

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Brian Druker is The Man

  to meeting Geeta Boudi from Baj Baj, South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, during the Patient Support Group Meeti...
05/08/2026

to meeting Geeta Boudi from Baj Baj, South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, during the Patient Support Group Meeting held in Kolkata in 2012.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2938610549601975&set=a.408044301510603

As Viji fondly said:
My special moment of the day was Geeta Boudi, regaling us with the adventures she had during her long journey to attend the meeting. She came all by herself — Ms Braveheart!”

Seen in the photograph are Viji, Geeta Boudi and Kolkata City Chapter Leader Sushmita Sen.

Friends of Max’s day-long Patient Support Group Meetings, now almost an annual feature in many cities, bring together patients and families living with CML and GIST, two rare cancers that require lifelong treatment. These meetings provide a safe and supportive platform where participants can:

· meet other patients and caregivers

· share experiences and learn from one another

· interact with leading physicians and oncologists

· gain knowledge about their condition, and

· understand the importance of treatment compliance

Most importantly, these gatherings remind patients and families that they are not alone in their journey. By the end of the day, they return home feeling hopeful, encouraged and empowered to live their cancer journey with dignity and strength.

To know more about us visit us at https://friendsofmax.info/

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

 In Loving Memory: As Sarcoma Awareness Month comes to an end we remember and pay tribute to yet another inspiring GISTe...
30/07/2026


In Loving Memory:

As Sarcoma Awareness Month comes to an end we remember and pay tribute to yet another inspiring GISTer and Patient Advocate.

George Colaco, who was diagnosed in 2010 when he was 50 years old and who till he passed away in January this year remained committed to FOM’s mission.

Affectionately remembered for his light hearted and optimistic approach to life George made sure all of us embraced his life motto “मै स्वस्थ हूँ, मस्त हूँ, तंदुरुस्त हूँ!” (“I am healthy, I am happy, I am fit.”)

He was a strong pillar of support to so many in the GIST family; funny, caring, affectionate and a friend and motivational figure to everyone in the CML community too. George never missed a single Mumbai Patient Support Group Meeting, travelling all the way from Vasai where he lived with his family; his wife, Elbira and their son, Elvis, whom he lovingly called "the love of his life".

As a long time survivor George was always willing to share his personal experiences and guide fellow GISTers with clarity and compassion on the course of their treatment. This was so helpful especially to those due for their surgery, chemotherapy or radiation sessions.

As George always said, being of use like this bought him immense joy and satisfaction.

Rest in Peace George, your legacy lives on.

The Max Foundation,Viji Venkatesh

Friends of Max Patient Advocate of the Month- July 2026We are delighted to share the 3rd instalment of our “25 years on ...
28/07/2026

Friends of Max Patient Advocate of the Month- July 2026

We are delighted to share the 3rd instalment of our “25 years on Glivec” Champs, featuring the stories of those CML and GIST patients who till today, are living testament of the Glivec magic continues to work upon them.

This month we proudly present Dr Raghu Krishnaswamy from Hyderabad, as FOM’s Special Patient Advocate of the Month for July 2026.

https://friendsofmax.info/patient_advocates/a-milestone-thats-really-etched-in-stone-part-3/

Enjoy the read!

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation CML Advocates Network International CML Foundation MPN Advocates Network

 In Loving Memory: Remembering FOM’s inspiring GIST Advocates and Patient Leaders who have left an indelible mark on not...
27/07/2026


In Loving Memory:

Remembering FOM’s inspiring GIST Advocates and Patient Leaders who have left an indelible mark on not only ours but the GIST community worldwide.

Today we pay tribute to Dr Nikhil Guhagarkar, the pride of our FOM GIST family. He worked hard to bring our GISTers and their caregivers together and secure for them a platform to share and learn from each other.

Through his advocacy and awareness efforts he brought many national and international accolades to Friends of Max.

Nikhil was our face and voice in the International Community bringing his vast experience and sensitive knowledge of coping with GIST in this part of the world. As a Board member of SPAGN, Nikhil represented FOM at multiple conferences and GIST Horizons, engaging with leading oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and other GIST advocates from around the world.

He brought back invaluable knowledge to his peers in India enabling better understanding and awareness of their disease. In 2015 Nikhil played a pivotal role in launching the dedicated GIST section on the FOM website. The FOM publication on Nutrition Guidelines for GISTers which was his favourite project is still sought after as an important resource.

Despite his busy and dedicated schedule as a physician (Dr. Nikhil was a Dental Surgeon with a busy practice) he still found time to contribute to the GIST community. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to patient advocacy, Nikhil was honoured with the Special Victor Award by the V Care Foundation during their 25th Anniversary celebrations in 2019.

Nikhil passed away in 2020. But his efforts in untiring advocacy work which brought many awards and recognition to FOM continues to inspire us every day and to take his work for GIST Awareness to greater heights.

Viji Venkatesh Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network - SPAGN The Max Foundation The Life Raft Group V Care Foundation

https://friendsofmax.info/newsflash/a-city-chapter-leaders-perspective-on-the-delhi-meeting-held-on-12-july-2026-at-sir-...
24/07/2026

https://friendsofmax.info/newsflash/a-city-chapter-leaders-perspective-on-the-delhi-meeting-held-on-12-july-2026-at-sir-ganga-ram-hospital-delhi/

A City Chapter Leader’s Perspective on the Delhi Meeting held on 12 July 2026 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.

As shared by Aditya Sharma, a dedicated core team member of the Friends of Max (FOM) Delhi Chapter.

Having engaged with patients and caregivers over the years, his perspectives matter.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Sir Gangaram Hospital India

The bedrock of every successful Patient Support Group Meeting is the active participation of all stakeholders.This was e...
17/07/2026

The bedrock of every successful Patient Support Group Meeting is the active participation of all stakeholders.

This was evident at the recently held meeting at Sir Gangaram Hospital in Delhi on 12 July 2026.

The hospital auditorium was filled to capacity, with over 100 patients, their families, physicians from Sir Gangaram Hospital India as well as visiting faculty from Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital, organising FOM City Chapter Leaders from Delhi, those visiting from Patna and Mumbai along with members of The Max Foundation Team in India.

It was a truly successful in every sense. Over 60 patients also benefitted from the at no cost BCR ABL facility offered at the meeting.

Here are some experiences from the meeting as shared by attending patients and their caregivers, on the importance of such meetings and how offering BCR ABL testing at-no-cost to patients at the venue helps make a difference.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Sir Gangaram Hospital India

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