About Us
The “UC Breast Foundation,” established in 2023 by Dr. Pragnya Chigurupati, aims to save lives and make a contribution to society by empowering patients with breast cancer.
Our Mission
Our mission is to save lives by providing monetary support to the community’s lowest-income members, as well as aims to empower women through health education and innovative medical care and achieve a research breakthrough and fight breast cancer. Our foundation also strives to put an end to the growing mortality rates due to a lack of screening and access to treatment.
Our Vision
To build a society where every woman, regardless of social or economic background, understands the importance of breast health and has timely access to screening and early diagnosis.
Reasons to start this Foundation
01
When I was training in General Surgery, a patient presented to the emergency room with a bleeding breast, who required expensive radiotherapy (RT) and blood transfusions. But because of her financial situation, my senior advised me against admitting the patient. I distinctly remember watching her being wheeled off in the ambulance to another center, whilst bleeding.
02
A young lady was waiting to gather the necessary funds for targeted therapy (HER2 positive) in order to treat her cancerous lump. Unfortunately, the tumor progressed while waiting for the financial arrangements because these tumors are quite aggressive and she was given the stage 4 diagnosis, which has a poor prognosis.
03
A young breast-feeding mother was misdiagnosed as having a breast abscess (infection) for 3 months which turned out to be cancer (stage 4) at presentation in my clinic. Her husband, a school teacher had to arrange 6 lakhs for her treatment. They had to sell their home to afford treatment.
These incidents are of those few women amongst the many patients who could not afford treatment.
This inspired the idea of establishing the UC Breast Foundation, after my mother Mrs. Uma Chigurupati.
-Dr. Pragnya
UC Breast Foundation Milestones
01
The UC Breast Foundation in December 2022 provided a financial aid of 2 lakhs to a 36-year-old woman with stage 3 breast cancer for chemotherapy. She is currently cancer-free and will be monitored.
02
The UC Breast foundation in January 2023 provided a financial aid of 50k to a 41-year-old lady for diagnosis of breast cancer who was previously misdiagnosed elsewhere. She went on to begin treatment in February and is currently undergoing radiation therapy.
- Dr. Pragnya Chigurupati Narra
(Consultant Breast Oncosurgeon, Hyderabad )
Education
MBBS, MS General Surgery- Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai
MRCS-Edinburgh, UK
HBNI Breast Oncology Fellowship – Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
Mch Breast Oncoplasty- University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
UHNM Breast Oncoplastic Fellowship- Royal Stoke University Hospital, UK
Currently working in
Trustees
Dr. Nita Nair
Consultant Breast Oncologist-
Apollo hospitals, Mumbai
Ms. Ramya Vankina
Angel investor-Board member
of Hyderabad Angel investors
Mrs. Anupama Koneru
Vice President- Araku Transformation,
Naandi Foundation
Dr. Anuj Kapadia
Director of Cathlab & Senior Interventional Cardiologist AIG Hospitals
Trustees
Dr. Nita Nair
Consultant Breast Oncologist-
Apollo hospitals, Mumbai
Ms. Ramya Vankina
Angel investor-Board member
of Hyderabad Angel investors
Mrs. Anupama Koneru
Vice President- Araku Transformation,
Naandi Foundation
Advisory Board
Mrs. Uma Chigurupati
Executive Director
Granules India Ltd
