SHYAM HEM-ONC Clinic
SHYAM Hem-Onc Clinic was established in year 2008 with an aim to provide high quality care for cancer patients, and for blood diseases. We believe in “Patient First” principle in all our decisions. Pillars of our work have been “Quality”, “Ethics” and “Care”.
Towards this goal, we have created an excellent TEAM to provide “Result Oriented Care” for patients with life threatening diseases like cancer, who need most updated medical knowledge, along with compassionate approach to patients in physical and psychological distress. Our consultant Dr Chirag A. Shah is trained in USA for seven years continuous, and is American Board Certified in both Hematology and Medical Oncology in 2002. As a commitment to updated and sound knowledge, he recertified in both Hematology and Oncology again in 2012, and was among the top 20 percentile worldwide who passed these examinations. Dr Chirag is also Director of Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant at Apollo Hospitals International, Ahmedabad.
He is supported by a team of four doctors at clinic, senior most being Dr Munjal Pandya, who trained under Dr Chirag, and is working with cancer patients since year 2004. Doctors keep themselves updated through regular reading and attending good quality conferences. Dr Chirag and Dr Munjal both were trained at Rome, Italy, under Professor Lucarelli, for Thalassemia transplant. Prof Lucarelli’s team has performed maximum transplants for thalassemia in world, over 1000. Outpatient care of transplant patients is meticulously followed by Dr Munjal and team. He regularly interacts with patients of Redcross undergoing thalassemia care to create awareness and improve their life.
Other needs of the patients and staff are looked after by a caring team headed by Ms. Sonal and Mr. Hitesh, who have been part of the team since 2008. A counsellor helps patients pass through the trauma of cancer diagnosis, and the journey thereafter. We believe that counselling is an equally important part of treatment.
Clinic takes care of nearly all types of cancers, and all types of blood diseases. Treatments offered are comprehensive, from Stem Cell Transplant (for various types of blood cancers, thalassemia, aplastic anemia and other blood disorders) and other most advance treatments to Palliative care for patients with advance stage of cancer. We have cared for over 3500 patients since clinic was established. Team has experience of taking care of additional over 5000 patients at Apollo Hospital, which is our primary affiliated hospital. We offer option of Karunalay (hospice center / palliative care center, managed by Shyam Oncology Foundation, providing free care) to poor and needy patients with advance cancer when standard oncology treatment is no longer feasible.
There are very few Hematologists in India. Since Dr Chirag is a US trained Hematologist, the clinic is well known for expertise in this field with difficult diagnoses presenting with abnormal blood counts, serious bleeding and clotting disorders, thalassemia, haemophilia, and of course blood cancers of all types. Blood cancer unit (Hemato-oncology) at Apollo Hospital under leadership of Dr Chirag is one of the largest such unit in the region, and one of the best in country in terms of results. For example, successful discharge rate for patients with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) induction in this unit is 96% in last five years. At most hospitals in country this rate is about 80%.
Patients come to us from all over India, and International. Many patients from Africa, Middle East and some from Europe, USA have been treated by us, including 12 patients who have undergone Stem Cell Transplant/Bone Marrow Transplant. Many more International patients have been treated for various cancers like Breast, Lung, Pancreas, Colon, Stomach, Ovary, Uterus, Pancreas, Head and Neck, Brain, Kidney, Sarcoma, CLL, CML, Lymphomas, Myeloma, Benign Hematological disorders and more.
As part of our commitment to quality, we work with the BEST in the medical field for laboratory, radiology and other services. For example, our primary pathologist has 25 years of experience in Hematopathology; Cytogenetics, PCR, and transplant related high end tests are done at one of the largest (and one of the first to be NABL accredited for such tests) laboratory of country; and more.
Similarly we admit our patients at the BEST oncology facility at one of the Best multispecialty hospital i.e. Apollo Hospital. Hospital has a 33 bed dedicated oncology ward, with six bed Transplant Unit, and nursing, medical and other staff working only in this area. Hospital has over 70 full time consultants trained at finest institutes in India or Abroad, state of the art RADIATION Oncology unit (with IGRT, Rapid Arc, SRS, Brachytherapy and more – one of the top 20 units in India), and all facilities under one roof such as MRI, CT scan, Interventional radiologist, and more. This is Gujarat’s first private Comprehensive Cancer Center, offering all cancer related services under one roof, resulting in best possible multidisciplinary team work, similar to concept of International Cancer Centers. We have region wise cancer surgeons, to provide best cancer surgery results i.e. separate surgeons for Head and Neck, Breast, Gastrointestinal tract, Urology, Gynecology, and Sarcoma.
SHYAM Clinic doctors also visit Surat, Rajkot, Bhuj, Visnagar regularly. This allows patients from all over Gujarat to be seen conveniently for follow up visits, and initial evaluation. Dr Chirag additionally visits various countries of Africa regularly.