When KnowTheGlow Co-Founder Megan Webber was introduced to Dr. Lopamudra Das Roy by Dr. Sowmya Jayachandran, it was clear that their shared commitment to awareness and early detection would spark a powerful connection. As the founder of the Breast Cancer Hub—and later, the Childhood Cancer Hub—Dr. Roy’s work is a testament to what one individual can do to transform cancer care with heart, humanity, and an unwavering commitment to personalized advocacy.
Dr. Roy was born and raised in India in a family steeped in service. Her father, Dr Chandra Sekhar Das, a beloved pediatrician, and her mother, Rita Das, a teacher turned social worker, instilled in her a deep sense of purpose and compassion. From a young age, open conversations about health were the norm in her household. But as she grew older, Dr. Roy began to understand the powerful stigmas that surround certain diseases. She recalls attending funerals where breast cancer went unmentioned, replaced with vague explanations like “brain cancer” to preserve a family’s sense of honor. These silences fueled her determination to break the taboo around speaking openly about health, especially women’s and children’s cancers.
Her academic journey took her from India to the United States, where she served as a principal investigator and cancer scientist in UNC Charlotte, mentoring students at UNC, discovering targeted cancer therapies, and writing research grants. Even in the U.S., she was shocked to find how late breast cancer was often diagnosed, including in men. It was this realization, combined with a deeper soul-searching, that called her to step away from academia and focus on what she saw as the “crossroads problems”—issues that require holistic, culturally sensitive solutions at the community level.
In 2017, Dr. Roy founded Breast Cancer Hub, as her full-time humanitarian work providing 100% Free services, which rapidly expanded from a research and awareness platform to a full-spectrum nonprofit offering screening, support, and hands-on care. “Every program we run starts with listening,” says Dr. Roy. “We build our response based on what that individual or village truly needs.” Her work is deeply personal and fiercely grassroots. She conducts door-to-door screenings, treatment aid, ensures food and transportation are available to patients, and shares her WhatsApp number with each individual so no one is left without answers or support. BCH’s printed awareness materials, which include a clear, visual design, are produced in over 24 languages, ensuring accessibility for families with limited literacy.
The death of her father in 2020 marked a turning point. Wanting to honor his legacy as a pediatrician, she launched the Children’s Cancer Hub. Her dedication deepened after meeting a young boy in Charlotte, North Carolina battling neuroblastoma—his recovery reminded her why this work matters so profoundly, and she created a neuroblastoma info card. Today, the hub creates child-focused initiatives, including making yellow hats for pediatric cancer awareness and specialized pillows for treatment comfort, many designed by expert seamstresses and tailored to each patient’s needs. What began as breast cancer care has grown organically to embrace other needs identified by patients themselves, from colon cancer awareness to childhood cancer education and disaster relief.
Dr. Roy’s impact reaches far beyond borders. She has expanded her outreach to countries like India, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, where she offers end-to-end village adoption programs, from awareness and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship.
What sets Dr. Roy apart is her insistence that this work never becomes impersonal or automated. “Every person, every patient—I know them,” she says. “It’s not just about the patient. It’s about the family, the caregivers, the entire community.” Dr. Lopa’s model is grounded in direct connection. Her personal WhatsApp number is shared widely, reflecting her belief that true advocacy means being reachable, present, and human.
Only about 20% of Dr. Roy’s work is visible online. The remaining 80% is composed of private, patient-focused interactions—quiet, daily acts of care that often go unrecognized but are no less vital. She’s built a movement not just on scientific expertise, but on compassion, cultural understanding, and unshakable human connection.
As KnowTheGlow explores potential collaborations with Dr. Roy and her team, we are inspired by her commitment to dignity, awareness, and advocacy for every child and every family. Her mission is a reminder that meaningful care is never one-size-fits-all—it is built relationship by relationship, one story at a time.
