Today we’d like to introduce you to Payal Goyal, Anshika Goyal.
Hi Payal Goyal, Anshika Goyal, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Stronger Than Cancer began during one of the most difficult chapters of our lives, but also from a simple act of kindness that stayed with us.
In late 2024, I, Payal, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, our family was navigating fear, uncertainty, appointments, surgery, and recovery. In January 2025, I underwent a mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction. During my recovery, my nurse navigator gave me a heart shaped mastectomy pillow. It may have seemed like a small gesture, but at that vulnerable moment, it brought me both physical comfort and emotional reassurance. I remember thinking about how meaningful it was to receive something created specifically to make a breast cancer patient’s recovery a little easier.
That pillow planted the seed for Stronger Than Cancer.
Having gone through breast cancer myself, I understood the needs of patients in a very personal way. I began thinking about other women going through the same fear, pain, and uncertainty, and how we could bring them some of the comfort and compassion that had meant so much to me.
My daughter, Anshika, had witnessed my entire cancer journey up close. She saw the difficult days, the recovery, and also how much small acts of kindness mattered. She took that initial idea and turned it into action. Together, we began thinking beyond one pillow and asking, “What else could we do to make a patient feel supported and less alone?”
That question became Stronger Than Cancer.
We started creating comfort care kits with thoughtful items such as mastectomy pillows, seatbelt pillows, blankets, head coverings, skincare products, socks, and handwritten encouragement cards. What started from our own experience soon grew into a much larger community effort, bringing together students, families, volunteers, businesses, and organizations who wanted to help.
For us, Stronger Than Cancer will always be more than a nonprofit. It is a mother and daughter story born from a cancer journey, compassion, and the decision to turn a difficult experience into something meaningful for others. What began with one pillow given to me during recovery has grown into a mission to make sure other breast cancer patients know they are seen, supported, and never alone.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. Stronger Than Cancer began while I was still physically and emotionally recovering from breast cancer, so balancing my own healing with building a nonprofit was challenging.
We also started with limited resources and had to learn everything as we went, from finding donors and partners to managing volunteers, supplies, and care kit deliveries. As a new nonprofit, earning trust and building strong relationships also took time.
There have been setbacks and many unanswered emails, but each challenge has taught us to be more patient, persistent, and resourceful. What keeps us going is knowing that even one care kit or one act of kindness can make a patient feel supported and less alone.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Stronger than cancer?
Stronger Than Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting breast cancer patients through comfort, awareness, resources, and community action. The organization was inspired by my own breast cancer journey and founded by my daughter, Anshika, who witnessed that journey closely and wanted to turn compassion into action.
One of our main programs is providing thoughtfully assembled comfort care kits for breast cancer patients. The kits include items such as heart shaped mastectomy pillows, seatbelt pillows, blankets, head coverings, skincare products, socks, and handwritten encouragement cards. We also create meaningful volunteer opportunities for students and families, organize breast cancer awareness initiatives, and connect patients with helpful resources.
What makes Stronger Than Cancer especially meaningful to us is that it combines lived experience with youth leadership. What started with one mastectomy pillow given to me by my nurse navigator has grown into a community of volunteers, businesses, students, and partners working together to help patients feel supported and less alone.
We are especially proud that Stronger Than Cancer has already provided hundreds of care kits and created thousands of hours of meaningful student volunteer service. Our goal is not only to support patients during difficult moments, but also to build a compassionate community where people of every age can make a difference.
At the heart of everything we do is one simple message: Together We Rise, Stronger Than Cancer.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We are based in the Dallas Fort Worth area, so what I appreciate most about our community is its diversity, generosity, and strong spirit of giving back. Through Stronger Than Cancer, we have met so many volunteers, families, businesses, hospitals, and community organizations that are willing to come together to support a meaningful cause.
If I had to mention one challenge, it would be how spread out the Dallas Fort Worth area is. Getting across the metroplex can take time, especially when coordinating events and deliveries, but the size of the community also creates so many opportunities to connect with people and make an impact.
Pricing:
- No pricing. Stronger Than Cancer is a nonprofit organization, and our programs and patient support services are provided through donations, sponsorships, and community support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stcancer.org
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stcancer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/stcancer/61579929064043
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stcancer/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@stcancer
