Expert diagnosis and treatment by Dr Bhavna Parikh, Senior Medical Oncologist, Mumbai
What it is: Pancreatic cancer develops when cells in the pancreas — the organ behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and insulin — grow uncontrollably.
Common symptoms: Abdominal or back pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), loss of appetite, and new-onset diabetes.
Main treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation, chosen based on the stage at diagnosis.
Patients searching for a pancreatic cancer specialist in Khar can consult Dr Bhavna Parikh, a senior medical oncologist practising in Mumbai for over 25 years. Her clinic is easily accessible for residents of Khar, Bandra, Santacruz, and surrounding western suburbs, offering a shorter travel option for advanced cancer consultation without needing to visit South Mumbai hospitals for an initial opinion.
As a pancreatic cancer specialist in Khar-area patients trust, Dr Parikh provides a complete pathway from diagnosis to treatment planning, working alongside radiologists, surgeons, and pathologists to build a personalised care plan for each patient.
Dr Bhavna Parikh earned her MBBS and MD from Seth G S Medical College, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, in 1993. The same year, she joined the Department of Medical Oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, where she received specialised training in the diagnosis and treatment of adult cancers — including chemotherapy and targeted therapy for cancers of the breast, lung, colon, stomach, ovaries, uterus, head and neck, and brain.
She has been practising as a Medical Oncologist in Mumbai for the last 25 years, making her one of the more experienced pancreatic cancer specialists in Khar's catchment area for patients seeking a second opinion or ongoing treatment.
Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ that lies behind the lower part of the stomach and plays a key role in digestion and blood sugar regulation. It is often diagnosed at a later stage because early symptoms can be vague or absent.
Anyone in Khar or nearby areas experiencing a combination of these symptoms — particularly persistent abdominal pain with weight loss — should consult a medical oncologist promptly for evaluation.
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of imaging and laboratory tests, which may include:
As a pancreatic cancer specialist in Khar and across Mumbai, Dr Parikh's treatment approach is based on the stage of the disease, overall health of the patient, and tumour characteristics. Treatment options include:
Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of pancreatic cancer treatment, used either before surgery (neoadjuvant), after surgery (adjuvant), or as the primary treatment for advanced disease. Regimens are selected based on individual patient fitness and tumour biology.
For select patients, targeted therapy drugs are used to act on specific molecular changes within cancer cells, offering an additional treatment avenue alongside or instead of standard chemotherapy.
Because pancreatic cancer often requires surgical and radiological input, Dr Parikh coordinates care with hospital-based surgical and radiation oncology teams to plan an integrated treatment sequence for each patient.
Dr Bhavna Parikh is regarded as a trusted pancreatic cancer specialist in Khar and the wider Mumbai region because of her long-standing clinical experience and training foundation at Tata Memorial Hospital, one of India's leading cancer centres.
Dr Parikh also treats other gastrointestinal and abdominal cancers that share overlapping symptoms with pancreatic cancer. Explore related pages:
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