About Us

Can Protect Foundation stands as a pioneering Non-Profit Non-Government Organization (NGO) dedicated to the early detection, prevention, and comprehensive screening of breast and cervical cancer in India. Our mission is to empower women by imparting vital knowledge about breast and cervical cancer symptoms. Through regular free health and cancer screening camps, our proactive approach emphasizes the importance of early detection, prevention, and the practice of Breast Self-Exam. Founded by individuals passionate about creating positive change, Can Protect Foundation is devoted to enhancing women’s healthcare, fostering awareness, and saving lives.

Our Mission: At Can Protect Foundation, our mission is to revolutionize women’s healthcare in India. We are dedicated to screening every woman and providing comprehensive education about breast and cervical cancer symptoms, essential examinations, and the practice of Breast Self-Exam. Our ultimate goal is to significantly lower the mortality rate of breast and cervical cancer through early detection. By imparting knowledge and education and providing access to free screening, we aim to empower women with the tools they need to safeguard their health and well-being.

What We Do: Our initiatives encompass a range of impactful activities. We organize free Breast Health Checkup camps, where women receive vital clinical breast examinations, breast light checkups, FDA-approved iBreastExam screenings, and radiation-free Thermo mammography for early breast cancer detection. Additionally, we offer Pap smears and mobile colposcopy for cervical cancer prevention. During these camps, we provide training sessions on Breast Self-Examination, ensuring that women are equipped with crucial knowledge. We also play a pivotal role in raising awareness about HPV vaccination, underscoring its importance for women’s health.

Our Impact: Guided by the expertise of Dr. Sumita Prabhakar, the Can Protect Team has dedicated the past 7 years to raising awareness and preventing Breast and Cervical Cancer across India. Our Breast and cervical evaluation and assessment camps, along with our awareness drives, have positively impacted the lives of over 700,000 women and numerous families. To date, our efforts have led to the evaluation of more than 35,000 women.

Our Pillars

Prevention: We firmly believe that prevention is the cornerstone of minimizing cancer risk. Beyond screening, we empower individuals to take control of their health by understanding their family history, adopting a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, performing monthly breast self-exams, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking. Together, these proactive steps offer tangible ways to combat cancer. Regular screening and self-examination serve as critical tools in early detection, enabling timely interventions that can make a life-saving difference.

Early Detection: Our emphasis on early detection stems from its transformative impact. Cancer diagnosed at an early stage presents a significantly higher chance of successful treatment. With high survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest stage, compared to around 15% for those diagnosed at the most advanced stage, the importance of early detection cannot be overstated.

Women’s Health: Can Protect Foundation was established to bridge the gap in information and awareness surrounding women’s health. Our efforts drive conversations and raise awareness about women’s health issues that demand immediate attention. Through advocacy, education, and promotion, we are driving the advancement of women’s health throughout India.

Milestones:

Pioneering Innovations: Since 2018, Can Protect Foundation has proudly held the distinction of being the sole NGO in Northern India to offer free Thermo-mammography to women, transcending social boundaries. We have remained unwavering in our commitment to ensure every woman has access to early detection tools, regardless of their social status.

Empowering Women’s Health: In the same year, we introduced Free Mobile Colposcopy services, revolutionizing the landscape of cervical cancer prevention. Our dedication to making cutting-edge healthcare accessible reaffirms our mission to empower women across the region.

Impactful Campaigns:

1. Meri Maa Swasth Maa Campaign: Our pioneering “Meri Maa Swasth Maa” campaign, initiated in 2018, has touched the lives of countless school students. Through immersive in-school workshops and awareness sessions, we educate the younger generation about preventive healthcare and their pivotal role in safeguarding their mothers’ health.
2. Asha ki Kiran Campaign: What began as a campaign to educate ASHA workers about Breast Cancer early detection, Cervical Cancer prevention, and menstrual hygiene has evolved into the transformative “Asha Ki Kiran” initiative. Today, it extends its reach to empower health workers, amplifying our impact far beyond our initial vision.
3. Canapp: Revolutionizing Awareness: In our unwavering commitment to education, we proudly introduce Canapp – an interactive Breast Cancer Awareness app available on the Google Play store. With Canapp, women can access vital knowledge about breast self-exams in languages including Hindi, English, Avadhi, Garhwali, Kumauni, and Jaunsari. This innovative app reinforces our dedication to making healthcare knowledge accessible to all, embracing technology as a catalyst for positive change.

Saving Lives through Screening

Throughout our past 7-year journey since 2015, we’ve accomplished remarkable feats. Our dedicated efforts have led us to screen over 35,000 women for initial breast and cervical abnormalities. As a result of our screenings, many women have been diagnosed with early or preliminary stages of cancer, leading to timely interventions that saved their lives. This powerful impact underscores our unwavering commitment to proactive healthcare and lifesaving outcomes.

These milestones reflect our relentless pursuit of enhancing women’s health, expanding knowledge, and fostering lasting impact. At Can Protect Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a healthier and empowered society, one milestone at a time.