Which is the best hospital in Indian cities for treatment of breast cancer?

[creativerose]

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

Hi creativerose,

There is no single best hospital as such. Breast cancer can be managed by an expert even in a small setup. I myself do so many breast cancer surgeries in small nursing homes, and patients are very happy. All that is needed for a breast surgery is the surgeon (with his experience in breast cancer and his art and skill) and a good cautery (machine using which tissues are cut in the body), nothing more!! In fact, my personal suggestion is, do not select a 'hospital', select a 'doctor'. When it comes to selecting doctors, you can ask leading questions and easily find out whether your doctor is knowledgeable or not.

This question is of particular importance in India (even in Mumbai, where I practice), because, many general surgeons and gynecologists and other specialists try to manage this disease themselves, with unfortunate results. But most common people do not realize this. If I were to go on, how such people botch up breast cancer cases, it will take me pages to write. I will give one simple example. I met one very popular General Surgeon at a clinical meeting, who had, I knew, done a bad and incomplete breast cancer surgery (the patient had come to me after surgery for a second opinion on further treatment, this doctor had barely removed the nodes in the axilla, all was intact!). I greeted him and initially praised him, that you do fair amount of breast cancer surgeries, it's good. He was elated. Then I asked him which patients come in stages 2 and 3. He gave some crap generalized answer, and was fumbling. Basically, after further questioning, I found out he did not even know the clinical staging system of breast cancer; and so also, I can assure you, majority of General surgeons do not know. A surgeon who cannot even stage the cancer when a patient comes to him, how can he even treat her, as everything is stage dependent! This is a very common scenario.

My suggestions:

1. Breast cancer should be treated ONLY by a Surgical Oncologist and his team (medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and support team). If you doctor is a General Surgeon, request him to involve an oncologist.

2. Do not be fooled that corporate setups are always the best. Many are good, no doubt; but not all oncologists are up to date. Ensure that your oncologist is well versed. Involve Dr. Google, learn more about the disease, and ask for the best treatment options.

3. Many senior oncologists in India (and almost all General Surgeons), even in Mumbai, are still stuck to Mastectomy (removal of breasts); many do not know how to do a Breast Conservation Surgery (BCS) (BCS is an art and needs training, to achieve a good cosmesis). Even for a 2 or 3 cm tumour (which is quite small), they remove the whole breast and manage to convince the patient for same (I feel this is a crime). About 70% cases of breast cancer can easily have a breast conserving surgery (we have to rule out that there are no cancerous tumours in the rest of the breast, by a good mammogram). So please insist on whether this can be done.

4. Go more by your instinct in addition to what other people nearby say.

5. Once you have selected your doctor, trust your doctor.

[creativerose]

Thank you very much doctor for a very detailed guidance

[rgci13]

Very well said Dr. Sumeet. Do you come to Delhi sometime. If so please let me know and I would really love to meet you personally. My mail I'd is [e-mail].I will also message you my nos, if you permit.thanks for your excellent advice.

[rgci13 in reply to rgci13]

Can I have your phone nos please. I require a little advice from you.

[MsLockYourPosts TeamBCI]

I have to encourage people to read Dr. Sumeet's advice and if not completely comfortable with the doctor you see, to get a second opinion. My first surgeon was recommended by my doctor, but was not a surgical oncologist. I only needed a lumpectomy, but when my report came back he told me that I needed a follow up mastectomy. I then went to UCLA (a university medical center in Southern California). Because of one read of my biopsy it was decided that I should have a second lumpectomy with nodes checked. Everything came back showing no further cancer. Thank goodness I did not listen to the first surgeon. My cosmetic result is excellent and I was dealing with people who looked at the whole picture - nodes, markers, etc. not just the lump and then lopping off my breast. They also were concerned about me as a person, not just me as a piece of meat, which is how the first doctor made me feel.

[manish_vkg TeamBCI]

Kindly let us know good doctor for Breast cancer...is there any good doctor in Rajeev Gandhi Cancer hospital, Delhi...

Please suggest.

[rgci13 in reply to manish_vkg]

Ihad my treatment in RGCI, Rohini, Delhi. It is a research institute and I am happy with the treatment and the followup schedule. Where are u getting the treatment done in Delhi?

[rgci13]

I did my treatment at Rajiv Gandhi and was satisfied with the doctors, nurses and other staff members. I have faith in the doctors of Rajiv Gandhi. I finished treatment in February 2013. So far so good!

[Lamchee]

You may take treatment under onco who is in your town.But every time you have an occasion to go to places like Bombay,consult Drs at Kokilaben Amani hospital,Rahejaetc.If your Dr.& other Dr differ in line of treatment,take 3rd opinion.Two Drs. Can not make the same mistake.if the opinion of 3rd Dr is same as your onco,then you are in right hands.if not,time to change your onco.

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to Lamchee]

I would like to mention, that if you speak of Mumbai, more than corporate hospitals, one would rather visit Tata Memorial Centre for a good opinion.

Tata Memorial Centre, is by far, one of the best Hospitals in India, especially when you are looking for an 'unbiased' opinion on treatment of cancer.

Most people have a feeling that only corporate setups are good, which is not necessarily so.

[Viniya]

One of the major issues with breast cancer is that it is often not detected soon enough. This is due to low awareness about the disease. Detecting it early can significantly reduce the death risk. Hospitals like XYZ Center are best known for breast cancer treatment. Their Centers are in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Jaipur.

Edit: This post has been edited by admin, as there was advertising which is against the rules of this forum and against the ethics of mutual help

[DrMeenuWalia]

Max Healthcare Hospital. It is a good breast cancer treatment hospital in Delhi, which you can trust upon. You can gather more information here: maxhealthcare.in/index.php/...

[manish_vkg TeamBCI in reply to DrMeenuWalia]

Dr meenu walia, i m really happy to see you over here..i m big fan of yours...

Regards,

Manish

[brahoni26]

There are good hospitals in Bangalore and Mumbai. I got my father's treatment done from GHS hospital Bangalore. Its good but tad costly. Since cancer treatment is costly buy all medication from rxpress.co.in or just call them on their number provided on their website. its very economical there and you save good amount of money. best of luck and take care. God bless

[Sapnagupta]

Which is best breast medical oncologist in Bangalore. Can u suggest