ABOUT US

Welcome to Dhairya Cancer Foundation

Dhairya Cancer Foundation (DCF) is a non-profit nationwide social organization based in Nepal. Founded by Terisa Tamang in November 2017, we are dedicated to providing practical, emotional, and social support to people with cancer and their families.

In Nepal, misconceptions about cancer persist, and patients often face stigma and isolation alongside their illness. Hospital-based data across major hospitals in Nepal recorded over 57,000 new cancer cases between 2015 and 2020 alone, with cases continuing to rise each year, affecting slightly more women than men.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with approximately 70% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Poverty, limited education, and unequal access to care mean many cancer patients in Nepal struggle not only with the disease itself, but with maintaining dignity and quality of life throughout treatment

A Message from Our Founder | Dhairya Cancer Foundation

Terisa Tamang

Founder and President, Dhairya Cancer Foundation

Founder’s Message

A Message from Our Founder

Welcome to Dhairya Cancer Foundation.

In 2017, I attended a leadership program in the UK where I first encountered psychosocial support models for cancer patients, a way of caring for people that went beyond treating the disease. Returning to Nepal, I realized this kind of support was largely missing here. That gap is why Dhairya Cancer Foundation exists.

Across Nepal, many people facing cancer continue to encounter not only the challenges of illness, but also misunderstanding, stigma, and isolation. Even today, misconceptions remain, and many patients and families navigate their journey with limited access to information, emotional support, and essential care.

Cancer is becoming an increasingly urgent public health challenge in Nepal, with hospital-based data pointing to a rising number of cases each year, affecting individuals and families across all communities.

For many families, the burden extends beyond treatment. Poverty, lack of education, limited resources, and unequal access to care often mean that patients struggle not only with disease, but also with maintaining dignity, hope, and quality of life.

Dhairya Cancer Foundation was created with a simple but powerful belief: no one should have to face cancer alone.

Our mission is to support patients and their families through awareness, emotional care, education, and community support while helping create a society that treats every cancer patient with compassion, respect, and hope.

Every act of support, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Together, we can build stronger communities and create a future where cancer patients receive not only treatment, but also understanding and care.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Terisa Tamang

Founder and President, Dhairya Cancer Foundation

Our Mission

What We Strive For

We are dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families through comprehensive emotional care, raising awareness about cancer prevention and early detection, and building supportive communities that stand with patients through their journey.

To support cancer patients and their families through awareness, emotional care, education, and community support while helping create a society that treats every cancer patient with compassion, respect, and hope.

Our Vision

The Future We Envision

We envision a Nepal where no one faces cancer alone. A future where every patient receives not just medical treatment, but also the emotional support, dignity, and community care they deserve. We dream of a society free from cancer stigma, where early detection saves lives.

A Nepal where no one faces cancer alone, and every patient receives compassion, dignity, and hope throughout their journey.