Consult Leading Oncologist

Dr. Fahad Afzal’s Journey

The long lines outside his consultation room are no deterrent to many people who come to seek medical counsel from Dr. Fahad Afzal, a leading Medical Oncologist practicing at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in Mumbai.  While the hospital is one of the oldest and highly reputed tertiary care multi-super specialty hospitals in the country – a young smiling face always greets you as you enter his consultation room.  What attracts these long lines is Dr.  Fahad’s understanding, hands-on knowledge, and skill in the management of cancer. 

The waiting queue of patients can further be explained by the passion and compassion that Dr. Fahad brings to his game. Perhaps his deep empathy and understanding with each of his patients are so genuine because it comes from his own life experience.  As a young boy, Dr. Fahad studied until his primary school in Dubai.  The untimely death of his father forced his family to come back to India but this life-changing event at a tender age, also planted in him the seeds of wanting to be a doctor so he could help save lives.   At that point in time, however, he hadn’t a clue on what specialization he might choose or which field of medicine called to him the most.  There was however a single-minded resolve to become a doctor. 

While studying for his medical degree – Dr. Fahad did MBBS in Karnataka, after specializing in Internal Medicine in Mumbai he underwent formal DNB training in Medical Oncology from Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hyderabad.  This is one of the largest corporate Hospital groups in India with over 3000 beds spread across 9 locations in central and south India. 

 Across the various states in India that he has worked in – his natural ability to immerse himself with people and go deeply into a subject led him to get exposure to a variety of patients, cultures, and languages.  His passion to keep himself abreast with various advancements, technologies, and treatment methods in his area of expertise is what keeps him glued to the latest cancer research material and led him to do short programs in Singapore and Oxford.  

Whilst over his years of serving patients, the accolades and the research papers have poured in – if you get a chance to meet Dr. Fahad, one might be shocked by his humility.  He himself is sometimes surprised at the path he walked.  He comes from a family where no one has ever chosen medicine as a career.  This is why every moment of his practicing career is dedicated to his mother whose belief in him and constant motivation enabled him to pursue his dreams against all odds.  She continues to be a strong pillar of support to him.  One can clearly see the respect he holds for his elder sister who has been a guide to him given her academic background. 

Dr. Fahad doesn’t just believe in “behind every successful man is a woman”- he has changed that quote to “beside every successful man there is a woman”. His wife is someone who walks life’s journey beside him as an equal and not only encourages him but also pushes him with a lot of love to go beyond his limits on a daily basis.   A gold medalist Endodontist by profession – she is a State Rank 1 and an All India Rank 3 topper.  Together with their own specializations, this powerhouse couple intends to leave a huge mark on the planet by providing quality health care to people. 

Most people who have experienced Dr. Fahad have felt his heart through the service he has rendered to them in perhaps their most difficult times.  That strong service from the heart is always backed with clinical decisions which have strong scientific reason and data supporting it. 

Though some of his patients refer to him as nothing short of a miracle worker – Dr. Fahad believes in doing everything in his prowess to make a miracle possible and then he leaves the rest to destiny.  After all – no one, not even he – knew that his destiny held for him a plan to work with the same oncologist who treated his father 25 years ago.

Dr.  Fahad’s appointments in prestigious institutions speak for his work.  Furthermore, he is well adept at medical management of patients with cancers of the breast, lung, colon, prostate, ovaries amongst others.   While prescribing conventional chemotherapy, he is well versed with the efficient application of targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies, hormonal therapy, and Immunotherapy. His proficiency also lies in managing immunocompromised and neutropenic patients, inserting and taking care of central venous lines, administration of chemotherapeutic agents by intravenous/subcutaneous/intrathecal routes as well as managing their toxicities.  He has invaluable experience in Autologous and Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplants for benign and malignant diseases. His keen interest in clinical research has led him to be part of several clinical studies & randomized trials. He has also presented scientific posters and abstracts at various national and international conferences for which he won accolades. 

He is an ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) certified Oncologist. He received SCE in Medical Oncology from the renowned Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom, and was part of the Preceptorship on Breast Cancer in Singapore in 2019. He is a member of several reputed Indian & International societies such as the European Society for Medical Oncology, the Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology, the Immuno Oncology Society of India, the Association of Physicians of India, etc.