The early twentieth century India saw profound paucity in health care delivery and education, and the beliefs of people were ruled mainly by ignorance, superstitions and myths. Diseases like cancer and its treatment were totally unknown during that time in India. Dr Ida Belle Scudder, American woman, came to India to break all norms and sacrificed her entire life to work in a missionary hospital. Gradually she trained herself to treat cancer patients and established a fully equipped radiotherapy centre to treat such patients. Later, the field of radiation oncology was transformed and modernised by another influential woman, Dr Ketayun Ardeshir Dinshaw, who with her leadership attributes left no stone unturned to firmly establish the role of radiation in the management of cancer and bringing its benefits to the people of India.
Keywords: Christian Medical College; Scudders; Tata Memorial Hospital; Women radiation oncologist; radiation oncology.