MOC Cancer Care conference focuses on fertility and sexual health in cancer treatment

MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre announced an approach to cancer care that integrates cancer treatment with survivorship planning, including fertility preservation and sexual wellbeing. The initiative was discussed during the Uro-Onco-Fertility & Sexual Health Conference, held in Mumbai from 28 February to 1 March 2026.

The conference brought together medical oncologists, uro-oncologists, andrologists, fertility specialists and psycho-oncology experts to discuss the role of sexual health, reproductive potential and long-term quality of life for patients undergoing cancer treatment. The discussions highlighted the need to address these areas within cancer care delivery.

According to the organisers, the care model extends beyond tumour-directed therapy to include fertility counselling at diagnosis, structured sexual rehabilitation programmes, hormonal evaluation, partner counselling and survivorship planning. With cancer survival rates increasing, the focus is shifting towards long-term wellbeing, which remains limited within routine oncology practice and clinical guidelines in India.

The initiative was conceptualised by Ashish Joshi, Vashishth Maniar, Pritam Kalaskar and Kshitij Joshi, cancer physicians and director and co-founders at MOC Cancer Care, along with Ganesh Bakshi, senior uro-oncologist and robotic surgeon at P. D. Hinduja Hospital and former head of the Department of Uro-Oncology Unit at Tata Memorial Hospital, and Deepak Gupte.

Panel discussions during the conference examined the impact of prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers, as well as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapies, on fertility, intimacy, body image and endocrine balance. Speakers noted that these issues affect patients across age groups and stages of disease but remain within a clinical grey area due to limited structured evidence and the absence of standardised protocols.

The scientific sessions included presentations by experts such as Ashish Joshi on strategies for advanced prostate cancer patients to address partner-related and psychosocial challenges, Pritam Kalaskar on evidence related to testosterone replacement therapy in prostate cancer and its clinical considerations, and Vashistha Maniar and Chandrashekhar Pethe on approaches in medical oncology within uro-oncology practice.

Other sessions were delivered by Gagan Prakash, Head of the Uro-Oncology Disease Management Group at Tata Memorial Hospital; Mahendra Pal from ACTREC, Mumbai; Rupin Shah; and Bhalchandra Kashyapi from Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. The sessions addressed uro-oncology and sexual health issues encountered in clinical practice in India.

Alongside these discussions, Ganesh Bakshi and Deepak Gupte emphasised the need for multidisciplinary tumour boards that include survivorship outcomes, the development of India-specific consensus statements and greater patient education on fertility preservation before the start of treatment.

Vashistha Maniar, Co-Founder and Director at MOC Cancer Care and Research Centre, said, “Our goal is to ensure that no patient’s quality of life is compromised in the pursuit of cure. Cancer survivorship is not merely about extending years to life, but adding life to those years. Addressing fertility, intimacy, hormonal health, and emotional wellbeing must become an integral component of standard oncology care.”

Ashish Joshi, Director, Co-founder and Medical Oncologist at MOC Cancer Care and Research Centre, added, “In urological cancers, especially prostate cancer, survival outcomes have significantly improved. However, issues such as sexual dysfunction, loss of intimacy, altered body image, and partner-related distress often go unaddressed. We must normalise these conversations from the time of diagnosis and integrate psychosocial and sexual health support as a routine part of cancer care rather than an afterthought.”

According to the organisers, the initiative seeks to promote collaboration, address evidence gaps and incorporate survivorship considerations within oncology care as cancer cases increase and survival outcomes improve in India.