What Oncology Teaches Us on Teachers’ Day - Dr Abhishek Krishna

September 5th 2025

On this Teachers’ Day, as we celebrate the people who shape our lives with wisdom and guidance, I find myself reflecting on the lessons I have learned from oncology. It is a field that teaches far beyond medicine—it teaches life itself.

Oncology teaches us resilience in the face of adversity. True strength is not the absence of fear, but the courage to keep moving forward despite it. Every day, patients walk into the radiation room or sit for their chemotherapy sessions with quiet determination, often with a smile that hides their struggles. Their bravery reminds us that resilience is one of life’s greatest lessons. It also teaches us the value of time. In cancer care, every moment matters. For doctors, it is about making timely decisions, avoiding delays, and balancing urgency with compassion. For patients, it is about living fully in the present, cherishing each day, each conversation, each small joy. Oncology becomes a powerful teacher of time—urging us to act wisely and mindfully.

Beyond cure, oncology teaches compassion. Cure is not always possible, but care always is. Whether through pain relief, palliative support, or simply holding a patient’s hand, we are reminded that medicine is not just about prolonging life but about enriching the quality of the time one has. In those moments, compassion becomes the highest form of healing.

Oncology also teaches us the value of teamwork and collaboration. No one can fight cancer alone—not the doctor, not the patient. Radiotherapists, surgeons, medical oncologists, pathologists, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists—each one plays a vital role. Success in cancer care is never an individual achievement; it is the result of many hearts and hands working together. Perhaps one of the most humbling lessons is the need for continuous learning. Cancer biology changes, treatments evolve, and patient needs grow more complex. Oncology keeps us grounded by reminding us that no matter how much we know, there is always more to learn. It is a lifelong teacher, urging us to remain curious, humble, and adaptable.

And finally, oncology teaches us that hope is medicine. Hope can heal in ways no drug or machine ever can. For some, it is the hope of cure; for others, the hope of more time; and for many, the hope of comfort and dignity.

Carrying and sharing hope is as vital as any treatment we prescribe.