Specialising in various therapies for cancer treatment, Dr. Mahajan has devoted his life to raising awareness about improvement in cancer treatment available today removing the fear in people’s minds. Under a social outreach he, along with his team, screened 5000 women in several villages and treated those having pre-cancerous lesions for which he was conferred with the Rising Star Award from the Indo-American Cancer Association and also recognised by the Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology (ISMPO).

Dr. Manoj Mahajan is an experienced Oncologist who presently works at Pacific Medical College, Bhilon ka Bedla, and Paras Health Hospital in Udaipur. He also has his own Day Care Centre named Cancer Care Clinic in Shobhagpura, Udaipur. His primary expertise is in all the therapies used for cancer treatment like Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy.

Dr. Mahajan believes that saving patients’ lives is his greatest achievement. In addition, he and his colleagues collaborated with the WHO in 2016 to screen around 5000 women in villages who were not receiving regular routine checks. After the screening, they discovered that 10% of them had pre-cancerous lesions, which they treated, which was one of his big accomplishments. For that outreach, the Indo-American Cancer Association in Chicago honoured him with the Rising Star Award. He and his team were later recognised for their work in this sector by the Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology (ISMPO),  and he also received the Mewar Health Care Award.

He explains that as the efficacy of medicines improved over the last 50 years, breakthroughs were achieved, with Radiation Therapy becoming the next step in cancer treatment. Chemotherapy is the most recent therapy used in cancer treatment, and it covers a variety of components such as Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Hormone Therapy, oral pills, and Cytotoxic Chemotherapy, all of which are given by his specialists. He provides treatment of cancer through all the three methods- surgical operations, radiation and chemotherapy.

Dr. Manoj laments that whenever someone is diagnosed with cancer, the first thing that comes to their mind is how much time they have left before death. He highlights that this mindset stems from decades of dread about the disease, as cancer treatment has developed only over the past 200 years. Initially, only surgery was performed, but radiation treatment began in the last 100 years, followed by chemotherapy in the previous 60 years, and target therapy or oral tablets in the last 20.

Dr. Mahajan explains that in the 1960s, cancer was treated only with surgery; there was no total cure available, and the illness used to reappear after six months or a year in the majority of cases. This dread still persists in the minds of people. However, there has been a concerted attempt by the medical fraternity to overcome this phobia during the last two decades as a consequence of new technology breakthroughs, and the outcomes have improved significantly. In comparison to previous years, the number of cancer survivors is presently growing. He believes that in order to lessen cancer fear, it is necessary to discuss cancer, cancer survivorship, and technical improvements in cancer treatment with the patients and the general people.

Delving more into the intricacies of cancer treatment, Dr. Manoj says he believes that cancer should be treated using a multidisciplinary approach. Cancer therapy is usually done as a team effort. There is a team of 10 to 12 doctors at work. The plan is mostly developed by oncophysicians or oncosurgeons, as well as other doctors such as oncopathologists, radiation intervention doctors, radiation oncologists, genetic counsellors, nursing care coordinators, specialists in treatment equipment management, and others providing support. As a result, it takes the combined efforts of many experts to treat one cancer patient using their experience and expertise.

Furthermore, whenever cancer is detected in a patient, it is the doctor's primary responsibility to alleviate the patient's fear of the disease in order to build their confidence. Their job is to give the patient an exact diagnosis, to determine the exact stage of the disease and, based on that, decide what treatment will be given, what are the chances of survival of the patient, about their prognosis, what the results and complications will be, and all this should be discussed with the patient during the first two to three days of counselling. Once treatment begins, the patient gradually gains confidence, which is also due to regular interaction between the doctor and the patient. The most essential thing is that as they treat more patients, the doctors’  confidence grows. It is a long term process that requires gentle and diligent behaviour.

Talking about his inspiration to come into the medical field, Dr Manoj states that he grew up in a tiny village where there were very few physicians and patients had to go to the district hospital for care. So, when he grew up, he chose to go into medicine to help people. He explains that his maternal grandmother, who had cancer, was the driving force for his interest in oncology. After finishing his MBBS, he spent four months with her, after which she recovered and is still well. From then, he was inspired to enter this uncommon sector and help patients suffering from cancer.

Dr. Manoj shares that he was born and raised in Maharashtra. He comes from a little town in the Sindkheda area and went to school there until the tenth grade. He completed his upper school education at Nashik and thereafter graduated from BJ Medical College in Pune. Then, due to financial constraints, he took a few years off from his  studies. He then earned an MD in Medicine from Aurangabad and an Oncology Degree from the Army Hospital in Delhi. He finished his oncology studies in 2014 and then moved to Udaipur to begin his journey of curing cancer patients.

Regarding his role models, Dr. Manoj describes two eras of his life in terms of role models. The first is his childhood, when he considered Swami Vivekanada as his role model and was much impressed by him. In contrast, in the second phase, he felt that the role models are limited to ourselves. He believes that we must observe others around us and identify some positive characteristics in them, which we must subsequently emulate.

He also admires Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and believes that each sector has its own role models, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kholi, MS Dhoni, and so on. He was also inspired by the army officers he served with.

When asked about his struggles, Dr Manoj states that the medical sector is fraught with difficulties. He shares that when he treats cancer, he is often unsure of the outcome of the specific patient's treatment, which is the most difficult and stressful part. Because each patient’s illness and treatment are unique, he can only expect a recovery but can not be sure of the outcome, which is one of the most difficult aspects of his job.

He advises new aspirants to this field to be patient. You must learn patience since the results are not immediate in the medical field and any disease can not be cured within a day or two except certain viral infections. The student must have tenacity and persistence to complete this journey since treating a patient is a long journey that requires you to become  a partner to your patient.

Dr. Manoj conveys a message to the youth that while we talk about CTC, dreams and ambitions, it is equally critical to talk about health. He believes that the most significant investment is in one's health. If you are not healthy, your money and fame are of no use. He illustrates it using the example of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, a business tycoon with hundreds of crores who regrettably died early due to his failing health. He advises young people to prioritise their health since only excellent health allows them to appreciate the money and fame they gain. As health is a concern, he urges the youth to quit tobacco and alcohol if they are consuming it and also exercise regularly.