Department of Medical Oncology at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre

The Department of Medical Oncology was envisaged and started by the visionary, Padmabhushan Dr Suresh H. Advani 35 years ago, who is also considered the father of Medical Oncology in India.

This was the era when medical oncology was in its infancy and a relatively unknown speciality. The trustees and research pioneers of Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre took a bold step by being one of the 1st non-governmental hospitals to set up a separate and dedicated department for medical oncology under the tutelage and guidance of Dr Suresh Advani. The department grew gradually with the help of the best oncologists in Mumbai and state-of-the-art technology. Today, the hospital is recognized as one of the best cancer centres in India. 

The department has grown significantly. Currently, it has 10 world-class trained consultants, specialised nursing staff for chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, residents staff and 6 secretarial staff.

The Department of Medical Oncology at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre is committed to providing exceptional care and support to patients with cancer. The mission of the department is to offer the most advanced treatments available while providing personalised care that addresses the unique needs of each patient.

The Department of Medical Oncology provides diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumours, colon, breast, gynaecological, prostate and lung cancer to around 300 outpatients in the OPD and approximately 350 inpatient admissions every week.  

In addition to the clinical services, the department also provides patient education and support to help patients and their families understand diagnosis and treatment options. The department also provides counselling to cancer patients and their families dealing with stress. Counselling is an important component of cancer treatment at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre.

Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre also conceptualised the idea of ‘DAYCARE’ as a separate ward to administer short chemotherapies, which was non-existent in the Indian setting. Now, at daycare wards at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, not only chemotherapy and targeted therapy but also supportive treatments like blood transfusion, platelet transfusion, growth factor support and intravenous fluids are provided to the patients. The hospital pioneered the concept of specialised chemotherapy nurses who are trained and devoted to the care of cancer patients at the daycare wards. 

Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre was also the 1st hospital to start bone marrow transplants (BMT) / stem cell transplants in the private sector in India in 2002. The department has successfully performed more than 600 allogeneic (sibling-matched, haplo-matched, matched unrelated transplants and autologous bone marrow transplants) to date. The BMT Unit has a one patient /one nurse ratio. The nurses are specialised and trained in BMT.

The strength of the department lies in the experienced and skilled doctors, advanced technology and support staff who help diagnose, treat, cure and support the families of all our patients. The multidisciplinary approach of the department adds to the many strengths of the department, ensuring the most adequate treatment.

The oncology specialists at the department not just deliver state-of-the-art cancer care to patients but also endeavour towards advancing the field through clinical and bench investigation. Providing advanced and innovative treatments to patients is the main goal of the department.